Win a Signed Copy of The British Larder Cookbook

Madalene Bonvini-Hamel has worked in some of the country’s finest restaurants, from Aubergine (under Gordon Ramsay) and Claridges, and under Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche. We’re delighted that she has teamed up with her publishers Absolute Press, to offer the Great British Chefs community three signed copies of her acclaimed first cook book - The British Larder: A Cookbook for All Seasons. 

Madalene’s story is one to inspire all food bloggers and lovers of food.  In 2008 she began The British Larder, as an online inspirational recipe diary designed to inspire creativity and passion among likeminded foodies.  Along with her husband Ross Pike, they wrote about all the food they loved. Their popular site also included the latest on seasonal ingredients, restaurants, inspirational chefs, outstanding food producers, cookbooks and even useful and well designed gadgets.

Photography became a slight obsession with Madalene.  However, with her professional chef’s training, it gave her the opportunity to capture the food through the eye of a professional chef instead of a professional photographer.

Madalene and Ross decided to take their years of experience & passion and turn their virtual home into a real culinary home.  On 6th of August 2010 they moved from clicks to bricks and opened the doors to British Larder, Suffolk. Since then their pub has won many prizes. Within the first year of opening they have won Best Gastro Pub East Anglia 2011. In September 2011 their pub won the Taste England Award at the Suffolk Tourism Awards 2011. The British Larder also found favours with Michelin inspectors and featured in the Michelin Pub Guide 2011.  Last year the pub received ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2012 Top 50 Gastropub Awards.

Now with Madalene’s passion for seasonal, locally-sourced produce is share in a beautifully produced cook book.  It gives you a month-by-month tour of the best produce that the country has to offer.  As with her pub the book has also gained wide acclaim. The British Larder won the World Gourmand Cookbook Award for Best UK Cookbook by a woman chef  in 2012.  It’s now on the shortlist for the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards for 2013.

The main beauty about this book is that it’s a reference book as much as a recipe book. It’s also a great story book; a story of Madalene’s passion and love for her career and her passion for British seasonal food.

Each dish is accessible and doesn’t need a lot of professional equipment to prepare.  You’ll also find lots of advice on essential British Larder basics such as stocks & sauces.  But because of the lovely photography it’s also a book you can curl up with and enjoy with a cup of tea.

The content is divided up into seasons, with each chapter dedicated to one of the months of the year.  Madalene focusses on the best British ingredients available in those months.  So if you’re lucky enough to win a copy start reading it from the chapter that corresponds with that the month you receive it.

Visit our British Larder Cookbook contest page to discover how to win a signed copy of this lovely book.  Good luck.

Win 1 of 4 Filippo Berio Hampers

This winter how would you like to win one of four luxury Filippo Berio Hampers? It’s  time to cosy up with some hearty & healthy Italian dishes using the finest olive oils. We know that all olive oils are not the same, so we’ve teamed up with Filippo Berio for the chance to win this hamper worth £100 that is packed with their finest products.   

Established in 1867, Filippo Berio olive oil is the only major Italian producer that has remained independent. Filippo Berio started producing Olive Oil as a very young man and established his own brand when he was only 21.  

Over the next forty years, Filippo Berio built up his business and became widely respected for his knowledge of Olive Oil. By the end of the 19th century, his Olive Oil was Italy’s foremost export brand, winning international awards for its exceptional quality. 

In  1960s the benefits of olive and other vegetable oils became widely known.  Olive Oil is one of the best sources of monounsaturated fat.  It also contains a high level of antioxidants, polyphenols, tocopherols and Vitamins A, B, E and K.  It has the additional benefits of regulating blood cholesterol levels.  If you’re looking to maintain a healthy digestive system, olive oil also helps to ensure efficient absorption of nutrients from the diet.

Countries in Southern Europe have lower rates of heart disease than those in Northern Europe – this is thought to be due to a diet containing plenty of fruits and vegetables, and rich in olive oil. 

Thanks to these various health benefits and of course its great taste there’s a continuing demand for high quality Olive Oil.  Filippo Berio’s fine flavour and versatility have made it the choice of home cooks and professional chefs around the world.

Sea bass carpaccio with chilli, oregano and olive oil

Filippo Berio’s extra virgin Olive Oils, olives, vinegars & pestos make the perfect ingredient for impressive dinner parties.  Simple flavours are beautifully presented in this sea bass fillet recipe from Robert Thompson. The sea bass is served up as a carpaccio and flavoured with chilli and oregano, making an excellent seafood starter

Chilli chicken pasta and red pesto sauce

Paul Ainsworth’s chilli chicken pasta recipe can be rustled up in no time and provides a beautiful dish perfect for a mid-week supper. 

Crushed potato with green olives

This simple crushed potato and green olive recipe by Pascal Aussignac works well with a number of meat and fish mains, as well as many vegetarian dishes.  The addition of green olives make for a flavoursome side, that’s a fantastic alternative to traditional mashed potatoes.  

With this hamper full of Filippo Berio products you’ll have plenty of choice to experiment with our chefs recipes.  The luxury hamper includes a variety of olive oils, a number of delicious vinegars, scrumptious stuffed olives, four different types of pestos and lots more! 

For your chance to win simply answer the question on our Filippo Berio contest page by 31st January 2013.  Good luck!

Win Tickets to BBC Good Food Show

Great British Chefs and BBC Good Food Show London have teamed up to offer you the chance to win pairs of tickets (worth £34) to this autumn’s foodie event! Expert chefs from your favourite BBC TV food series will be bringing their cookery shows to life on stage at London’s Olympia from the 9th - 11th November.  Find out how to win one of five pairs of tickets ….

For three days, your favourite cooks & chefs from shows such as MasterChef: The Professionals and Saturday Kitchen will be cooking delicious seasonal recipes live on stage. Also for the first time The Great British Bake Off will be taking to the stage on Friday 9th November, giving you the opportunity to meet Mary Berry & Paul Hollywood as they recreate dishes from the show in a culinary SuperTheatre.

Tom Aikens, Theo Randall, Vineet Bhatia and Pierre Koffmann from Great British Chefs will also be appearing at the show.  Discover the secrets of their success at an intimate interactive stage. 

Baked Alaska by Tom Aikens

On Sunday you can also see Tom & Vineet “battle” it out in a Michelin Star Challenge hosted by Olly Smith.

Grilled Peaches & Cardamom Panna Cotta by Vineet Bhatia

When you’re not rubbing shoulders with the chefs, you can visit the Producers’ Village. Here you’ll find the very best artisan producers and speciality food retailers. Discover new flavours, meet the makers of your favourite produce, indulge in delicious hand-made delicacies and stock up on gifts, ingredients and goodies.

We have five pairs of entry tickets for BBC Good Food Show for either Friday 9th or Sunday 11th November.

For your chance to win, simply tell uswho’s your favourite TV chef and why.Enter in the comments here no later than 11.59pm on Monday 5th November 2012.  Entry into the competition is for UK residents only & does not include transport to the event.

We will randomly select the prize winners from the comments made by the entry deadline.  The lucky winners be selected & informed on Tuesday 6th November 2012 & your tickets will be sent by registered post that day.

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Win 1 of three Gressingham Duck Hampers

How would you like the chance to have a duck feast by winning one of three Remarkable Duck hampers?  We’ve teamed up with our friends at Gressingham Duck to bring you a variety of duck meat cuts so you can make the dishes below.  

Whole roast duck with Szechuan sauce by Marcello Tully

Our friends at Gressingham are giving away THREE fabulous Remarkable Duck hampers crammed full of tender meat, each one including;

* a whole Gressingham Duck
* duck legs
* duck breast
* tangy duck
* half aromatic crispy duck

Plus a brand new Gressingham apron

Slow-cooked duck leg with peas, lettuce, bacon and mint by Dominic Chapman

To be in with a chance of winning one of these delicious hampers, simply enter the free prize draw by visiting our Gressingham Duck competition page and answering a simple question.

Honey-roasted breast of duck with griottine cherries by Mark Jordan

You’ll find the answer in our Duck Feast Collection plus a whole host of recipes you can make with your Gressingham duck goodies.

You have until 31st October 2012 to enter the contest.  Good luck!

Win a Magimix Le Glacier Ice Cream Maker

Finally it looks like summer has arrived and what better way to enjoy the sunshine with a delicious dish of ice cream.  Even better if you can get creative and try something beyond vanilla, strawberry or chocolate. We’re here to help your creativity, as we’ve teamed up with Magimix to give away this stunning funky blue Le Glacier ice cream maker (RRP £59.99).  

On Great British Chefs there are whole host of ice cream recipes, from peanut butter ice cream to pine nut ice cream. Some are part of a larger dessert; like Simon Hulstone’s rose and almond tansy pudding with butternut squash ice cream, others sit by themselves quenelled and teasingly starting to melt. 

With ice cream makers becoming more affordable now is the time to get creative.  

Making pineapple ice cream in our Magimix ice cream maker

Our ice cream recipes are taken from the menus of some of the finest restaurants in the UK. And where chefs venture, home cooks eagerly follow. However, now you can forget hand stirring and having to take your bowl in and out of the freezer as in the past. Making ice cream is much easier and more fun with an ice cream maker.  

Whether you want to make Galton Blackiston’s Tutti Frutti ice cream (pictured above) or Kevin Mangeolles delicate Earl Grey ice cream, with Magimix you can enjoy your favourite ice cream flavours. Compact and simple to use, Le Glacier allows you to make delicious homemade ice cream from just 20-30 minutes. 

To enter our contest to win a Magimix Le Glacier ice cream maker simply visit this link and answer the simple question by 21st August 2012.

You’ll find the answer and other delicious ice cream recipes in our Great British Chefs ice cream collection.  Good luck!

Win Tickets to Taste of London 2012

Great British Chefs and Taste of London have teamed up to offer you the chance to win pairs of tickets (worth £48) to this summer’s foodie event! Several chefs from Great British Chefs website will be serving special menus at the festival from 21st - 24th June Find out how to win one of 13 pairs of tickets ….

Strawberry Tart by Pascal Aussignac

For four days fine dining will be transported to Regent’s Park for great summer eating, drinking and entertainment. 40 of London’s best restaurants will be serving up their finest in an unbeatable alfresco gourmet feast, while 200 producers are presenting of their best food and beverages.  You’ll be able to sample and shop for a range of great produce in a lovely atmosphere.  There’s also a whole host of masterclasses & demos from the country’s finest chefs.

The following chefs from Great British Chefs will have special menus of starter sized dishes for the occasion.  Treat yourself to their signature dishes reflecting their cooking philosophy and showcasing seasonal ingredients.  

Salad Niscoise by Pascal Aussignac 

Pascal Aussignac’s Club Gascon will present top produce cooked in the manner of southwest France. Pascal’s grasp of seasonal produce and his capacity to bring ingredients together is showcased in every dish. 

Bharwan Paneer by Alfred Prasad

Alfred Prasad specialises in the cooking of north-western and southern India. His award winning Tamarind restaurant offers a modern interpretation of Mughal cuisine - the courtly food of ancient Rajasthan that revolves around the tandoor oven, in which marinated breads, meat, game and seafood are grilled over charcoal.

Crab Salad by Theo Randall

Having worked his way up the ranks at the iconic River Café, Theo Randall knows a thing or two about running a restaurant. At The Intercontinental, Theo cooks what he loves: Italian inspired, seasonal, rustic food that’s uncomplicated but packed with love.

Hake Fillet with Golden Beet & radish salad - Simon Rogan

Last but not least on Friday Simon Rogan will be the guest chef at Action Against Hunger’s Restaurant at Taste of London. Simon moved to the picturesque village of Cartmel, Cumbria, in 2002 to set up L’Enclume, the restaurant with rooms which has since garnered a host of accolades.  His London “pop up” restaurant Roganic has also received rave reviews. His dessert reached the finals of Great British Menu & was served at the Olympic Banquet. 

We have three pairs of entry tickets for Taste of London for Saturday evening 23rd June 2012 and 10 runner up pairs for either Thursday 21st or Friday 22nd June.

For your chance to win, simply tell us which of the cuisines represented by the chefs featured above is your favourite - French, Indian, Italian or English & let us know one of your favourite dishes from that country - for example,  Italian, Spaghetti Carbonara.   Enter in the comments hereno later than 11.59pm on Sunday 17th June 2012.  Entry into the competition is for UK residents only & does not include transport to the event or Crowns to spend at the festival.

Our Taste of London recipe collection has more dishes from the chefs at the event.

We will randomly select the prize winners from the comments made by the entry deadline.  The lucky winners be selected & informed on Monday 18th June 2012 & your tickets will be sent by registered post on Tuesday 19th June 2012.

We look forward to seeing your entries.

Win Prizes in Great British Chefs’ Easter Egg Hunt

How would you like to win one of THREE Luxury British Biscuit Selection Hampers from Bakers Pantry?  After Easter most people will be fed up of chocolate, so this luxury, family baked biscuit selection will be a perfect treat.  For your chance to win, simply join our Great British Chefs Easter Egg Hunt! We’ve hidden five “virtual eggs” around our site. There are five clues below as to where you can find them.  

Luxury British Biscuit Selection Hamper from Bakers Pantry

Here’s the clues:

1. Which 2-word restaurant, that doesn’t include the words ‘restaurant’ or ‘castle’ on its title, has all the letters from the word EASTER in its name? 

2. Which dish brought back from the 70s requires you to prepare a mayonnaise with 1 egg yolk?

3. Which chef says that jellies, mousses and foams ‘taste like bubble bath’?

4.  Great British Chefs is preparing a close follow-up of a BBC TV programme. What is that programme?  

5. Which video shows you what you might do with an Easter Bunny?

Once you have found all five eggs, email your answers as to where you found them to competitions@greatbritishchefs.com by 11.59pm on Easter Monday - 9th April 2012 & we will then choose three lucky winners from all of the correct entries on Tuesday 10th April. This contest is for UK residents only, but there’s plenty of Easter goodies you can make yourself in our Great British Chefs Easter Recipe Collection or Easter Baking ideas in our blog.

Come back to this blog post over the Easter weekend as we may help you out with some extra clues on the answers, but we’re sure you won’t need them!

Have fun & good luck!

Win a Sky High Lunch at The Gherkin

How would you like to have lunch in a restaurant that’s 180 metres high with some of the most unforgettable views of London?  At Great British Chefs we have teamed up with Searcys at The Gherkin to offer a lucky person and their guest the opportunity to do just that.

Photography by Chris Osburn

The view from the glass dome at the top of The Gherkin is simply breathtaking and the food is equally stunning.  In 2011 The Gherkin won the “COOL venue awards”, judged by a panel of experts in the events industry. The awards focus on venues that have “Charisma, Originality, Style, Innovation, Sex Appeal, Authenticity, and Uniqueness”.

Searcys, one of London’s oldest catering companies, was established in 1847.  They run the top 3 floors of The Gherkin which operate as an exclusive private members club, unique restaurant and bar.  

Executive Head Chef, Arnaud Stevens, works hard to provide locally sourced, seasonal and sustainable produce.  I was lucky enough to have lunch there a few weeks ago and   from the beautifully light pork scratchings (pictured above) with a fluffy apple sauce right through to the amazing rhubarb dessert, could see why the restaurant received the “Cool Venue” award.  I loved the “Modern British” menu with its clever take on British foods.

Don’t think that the restaurant is just the domain of rich City boys and girls. Non members can hire attractive private dining rooms for dinners or corporate events.  The venue is also licensed to hold weddings and civil partnership ceremonies and you can hire the whole restaurant for weddings in a really unique setting.

Those of you who watch EastEnders may remember a few weeks ago Michael Moon proposed to feisty Janine Butcher at the top of The Gherkin.  Searcys club director Joel Claustre said: “We were proud to have played host to the BBC crew because they were looking for a venue that would produce the wow factor and they chose the Gherkin. We believe that the venue is second to none in terms of its breath taking scenery and it was nice to see filming location experts backing that up.”

Each dish on the lunch menu came with the “wow factor” that you’d normally see in Michelin and other award winning restaurants. Elegant little touches like the sauce being poured over delicious ravioli at your table.

Fruity foam was piled on top of our fish with a theatrical flourish. Everything complemented the awesome view so well.  Somewhere with such a view could easily be let down by serving food that’s just acceptable.  But this clearly wasn’t the case with Arnaud’s food.

Even the petit fours at the end of the meal, were carefully selected and prepared.  A quirky mix of gourmet “cola bottles”,”fruit pastilles” mini macarons and Gherkin style Ferrero Rocher made the whole lunch experience fun and highly memorable.

So how can you win lunch for two at The Gherkin?  You’ll remember that the venue is available for wedding hire, so give us your ideal three course romantic and memorable menu for a wedding.  You have until 11.59pm Wednesday 11th April to make your entries here.  The lucky winner will win lunch for two plus wine which must be taken on a Monday or Tuesday by 31st May 2012.  The competition is only open to UK residents and doesn’t include travel to and from The Gherkin.

Great British Chefs will choose their favourite menu from all the entries by Thursday 12th April and inform the lucky winner that day.  We really look forward to seeing your entries. 

Win one of FIVE Afternoon Teas for Two at Maison Blanc

How about a lovely treat for your Mum this Mother’s Day?  The delicious afternoon tea at Maison Blanc gives everyone a great excuse to grab a friend and indulge in a little patisserie party of their own, and now you can enter our competition at Great British Chefs to win one of FIVE teas for two at one of Raymond Blanc’s wonderful French Bakery Shops and Cafes.

Priced at £19.90 for two, the afternoon tea includes as much tea or coffee as you can drink and 10 delicious mini patisserie which have been adapted from Maison Blanc’s most popular creations.

There are two of each of the following featured in the afternoon tea; exquisite mini chocolate eclairs, lemon meringue tarts, mini apricot almondines, soft chocolate brownies and millefeuille framboises. Each one of these small but perfectly formed treats are hand made by Maison Blanc’s skilled craftsmen and sprinkled with a touch of French magic.

British Pie Week at The Windmill & Win a Tutored Pie Tasting

British Pie Week 2012 runs from 5th -11th March and to say that we’re looking forward to it on Great British Chefs is a bit of an understatement. We’ve posted a recipe for a gorgeous “Rainy Day” Chicken & Mushroom pie in anticipation & were particularly delighted when Danny Kingston aka  Food Urchin said he was going to a preview of Pie Week at The Windmill in Mayfair.  Read on to see how he got on & there’s a special competition for Great British Chefs readers at the end of the post…. 

Blog post & Photography by Food Urchin aka Danny Kingston

I like Carl Smith. I like him a lot. And there is good reason to. He is affable, warm and friendly. He runs two, smart, respectable pubs selling decent, quality beer. And he knows a lot about food, pies in particular. In fact, he is a bit of a Pie Master and presides over the Windmill Pie Club, which boasts over 6000 members. His unbridled knowledge of meat, suet, gravy and crust knows no bounds. So, so far, so good.

Yet when I sat and dined with him at the table earlier this week, this esteemed gentleman committed a faux pas of such gargantuan proportions that………well, let’s just say he doesn’t know how lucky he is. Because it came this close to kicking off.

As next week is British Pie Week, I had been invited to The Windmill to sample some of Carl’s excellent pies and to find out about some of the events that Carl and his team had planned to commemorate. Having demolished the best part of my first course of fish pie, wonderfully flavoured with smoked salmon, haddock and by the unusual addition of crayfish, I decided to pipe up and ask whether he had ever put proper Cockney Pie and Mash on the menu. Carl finished his mouthful, paused and then, somewhat disdainfully in my opinion, said:

“What with that… that watery, parsley, béchamel sauce? Ooh no, I don’t think we would ever do that”

With one eyelid twitching, I stared back at him and desperately tried to swallow the remaining chunk of haddock in my mouth, coughing as I forced it down my throat. What did he just say?

Now, of course, Carl wasn’t to know how strongly I feel about my beloved pie and mash and liquor, the stuff I grew up on as I clawed my way of out of Bromley by Bow into the leafy climes of Essex. To me, it is the ultimate comfort food, it symbolises childhood memories on a plate, sure it needs lashings and lashings of malt vinegar to make it anywhere near palatable but, in short, it is manna from heaven. And Carl had the temerity to dismiss it with just a wave of the hand.

I had two choices. I could go totally Bob Hoskins and create a scene worthy of a Christmas special in the Queen Vic, legs flailing, glasses smashing, with a blonde swinging on my arm all legs akimbo, screaming:

 “’E ain’t worth it, ‘e ain’t worth it Daaaaaaan!”

Or I could just take it on the chin and sit there and wait for my next course of Steak and Kidney pie to come out. Which, incidentally, turned out to be even better than the fish offering as it was full of flavour with rich gravy and tender morsels of beef, complete with a fantastically moreish pastry.

And having watched Carl earlier on video, creating his signature meat and offal pie, it was plainly obvious that the guy took a lot of pride in his work. So who was I to quibble his authority?

*pause*

No the man is wrong, very wrong, completely wrong, absolutely wrong and he needs to rethink his views on pie and mash pronto. Unless he wants me to turn up to The Windmill like Phil Mitchell on White Lightening, setting fire to the place that is.

I jest.

And in all seriousness, Carl was right about one thing though. This humble baked dish, in all its various guises, is pretty much synonymous with Britain’s food culture. If there is one thing we love and do well, it is a pie. So why not have a week to celebrate them? Given current trends and the attention lauded upon burgers, hotdogs, ribs, barbecue, especially in the capital, he does have a point.

Rhubarb & Apple pie for dessert

But first Carl needs to start by putting proper pie and mash up on the menu (I’ll stop there now).

The Windmill, 6-8 Mill Street, London, W1S 2AZ 

www.windmillmayfair.co.uk Twitter: @tweetiepie_w1

Blog post & photography by Food Urchin aka Danny Kingston

To celebrate British Pie Week, The Windmill are very kindly giving Great British Chefs community two pairs of tickets to their Pie and Beer tutored tasting with Pie Master Carl Smith and Britain’s leading female beer writer Melissa Cole on Wednesday 7^th March. Tickets are normally £10 & only available to members of The Pie Club.  But to win one of two pairs of tickets simply give us your dream pie filling.  It can be savoury or sweet.  Leave your pie filling suggestion in the comments here or on Great British Chefs Facebook Page by Monday 5th March 11.59pm & we’ll pick our favourites & inform the two lucky winners on Tuesday. Good luck!

Enter our Food Bloggers’ Dinner Party / Supper Club Competition for Action Against Hunger

For the whole of Social Media Week at Great British Chefs we’re delighted to be hosting a competition where anyone can make a meal for Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food Campaign from 13th – 19th February 2012.

Shay Cooper’s Amedei Chocolate Tart - Great British Chefs Valentine’s Day Collection

It’s Valentine’s Day during that week & we have a whole collection of Valentine’s Day Recipes from our award winning chefs. Your challenge is to host a dinner or supper club using any of the recipes in that collection.  You can hold your dinner/supper club anytime during Social Media Week & ask people to make a donation toward Action Against Hunger when attending.  Then enter our competition to win a host of culinary prizes.

See what @TastyRibbons aka Kathryn Morrissey is planning for the event - she’s making dishes from Paul Heathcote, Marcus Wareing & Robert Thompson.

To enter

1.  Decide when you want to run your Supper Club / Dinner Party - it has to be from 10th - 19th February 2012

2.  Choose some dishes to make from the 60+ Valentine’s Day Recipes on our site.

3.  Register your event on Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food website, so they can help you with fundraising tips & advice.

4.  Invite your friends & family, remembering to tell them, they will be asked to make a donation to Action Against Hunger. To make the most out of your fundraising, why not suggest a minimum donation for all your efforts to your dinner guests? You can then either collect donations in cash on the night of your party, or else via your own fundraising page on Just Giving.

5.  Hold your party and take lots of photos & tweet about it (video if possible) - if you are uploading onto Flickr or Tweeting use the hashtags #SMWLDN and #SMWGbchefsFoodBlog

6.  Collect the funds from your dinner party & send to Action Against Hunger by 27th February 2012 (unless a special arrangement has been made for you to pay later) You can submit your funds by paying directly into Action Against Hunger’s account:  Action Against Hunger Ltd, Co-operative Bank, Sort Code 08-92-50, Account No 65027015 - please use the reference Supper Club - or by making donations through your Justgiving Page.

6.  Write your blog post no later than 11.59pm on Monday 27th February 2012, then leave a comment here to tell us you have finished your post with the URL - web address of your post.  

That’s it - we will then upload all entries that have met the above criteria onto our Great British Chefs Facebook page so the public can vote for their favourite entries.  Those with the most votes will go through to a final judging by Award Winning Food Writer & Judge of Great British Menu – Matthew Fort  & Observer Food Award Winning Food Blogger & Author  - Niamh Shields of EatLikeaGirl  

Those overall winners (we will have a number of categories including most funds raised) will win some amazing culinary prizes including:

• a meal for two at one of the Michelin Starred restaurants featured on Great British Chefs site,
• a hand blender from Philips,
• cookery books from Octopus Books,
• a hamper from Unearthed foods,
• wine tasting at home party vouchers from Pieroth,
• gourmet takeaway meal vouchers from Housebites,
• vouchers to make your own postcards & promo cards from MOO.com
• Zagat’s 2012 London Restaurant guides & foodie hampers 

and more to be announced.

Right now here’s an inspiring update from @TastyRibbons aka Kathryn Morrissey who has just held her event and raised £250 for Action Against Hunger with her Supper Club. What a great start to the week and she’s set the bar high! Let’s see what you can do now!

Good luck with your entries, and please contact meccaATgreatbritishchefs.com if you have any queries about the competition in the meantime. 

Win a Pair of Tickets for our Exclusive Nougat & Christmas Cracker Making Workshop

As we had so much fun at  our last Chocolate Truffle & Handmade Gift Box Making Workshop at Homemade London, we’re delighted to be running another exclusive event there, just in time for Christmas.  You’ll be able to make Martin Wishart’s gorgeous Nougat from our Feastive App which make perfect Xmas gifts or after dinner treats. If that’s not enough you’ll also make some beautiful handmade Christmas crackers for your dinner table.  

Nougat by Martin Wishart from Great British Chefs Feastive App

The workshop, specially designed for us at Great British Chefs, will be on Friday 16th December 2011 at Homemade London’s beautiful location in the heart of central London, just minutes away from Marble Arch Tube station.  We have FIVE pairs of tickets to give away.

From 6pm for a 6.30pm start, you and a friend will be welcomed with sparkling wine & nibbles. Then along with a friendly group of other enthusiastic cooks & food bloggers, you’ll make Martin’s Nougat & also the lovely Christmas Crackers.

Photo by Quite Peculiar at Tasty Fever from our last workshop

Nougat is a classic French sweet, most often associated with the town of Montelimar where it has been produced for centuries. Delicious with after dinner coffee, Martin’s version is one of the 60 amazing recipes for stand out celebrations in our Great British Chefs Feastive App.

When making your Christmas Crackers you can choose from one of Homemade London’s designs or create your own - they’ll also show you how to create your own paper hats, give you ideas for Christmas jokes, (if you need them), and you can pop one of your homemade nougats into the crackers too (that’s if you’ve not eaten them all yourself)!

Visit our Great British Chefs Facebook page for details of how you can win one of five pairs of tickets or if you’re not on Facebook visit us on Stand 112 at Taste of Christmas (2nd - 4th December) for details of how you can enter from the show and we are also giving away a pair of tickets in Action Against Hunger’s raffle for Taste of Christmas.  We cannot pay travel expenses, so if you win, you & your friend will have to make your own way to central London on the evening of the 16th - but with so many goodies you will get on the night, the trip will be worth it. Entries close on 23.59 GMT on Sunday 11th December, we will inform the five lucky winners on Monday 12th December.  Good luck.