The search for Gloucestershire’s best young cook is on, with the launch of the 2019 Create & Cook Competition.

The competition, run by food education organisation fit2cook in partnership with The Midcounties Co-operative Food’s ‘Best of Our Counties’ brand, was launched at an event at Shipton Mill, Tetbury, with teachers from secondary schools across the county in attendance.

The Create & Cook Competition will see pupils aged between 12 and 14 years going head to head to create delicious menus from the wealth of locally-produced ingredients Gloucestershire has to offer.

Young cooks will be challenged to hunt out ingredients from Gloucestershire’s farmers’ markets, farm shops and local allotments to create their menus.

At the 2019 launch, teachers were treated to a private tour of the historic Shipton Mill which is known for its organic flour sold locally and nationally.

Shipton Mill flour makes fantastic pastry, pasta, biscuits and is a popular ingredient for the young cooks to use in their locally sourced menus.

Young cooks enter through their school food technology department to send in entries by Friday, March 29. The winning menus will be announced in the spring at Gloucestershire College, which is supporting the competition alongside The Midcounties Co-operative Food and local farmers market organisation Fresh N Local.

Min Raisman, director of fit2cook, said: “The Create & Cook initiative is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate local food and for budding young chefs in the region to showcase their skills in the kitchen.”

Matt Fletcher, direct sourcing manager at The Midcounties Co-operative Food, said: “Last year’s Create & Cook competition was a huge success and really showcased young, talented Gloucestershire chefs. We’re pleased to be supporting again this year and are looking forward to seeing what our contestants cook up.”

For more information about the Create & Cook Competition and how to take part, go to createandcook.co.uk/