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STOP PRESS - Entry still open - this could be your big chance.

Local residents and workers are being given a once in a lifetime chance to share the stage with the celebrity chefs at this year's Mold Food and Drink Festival.

The Mold Hotel and Restaurant Association, the group organising the event for the third year running, is launching the Mold Cook's Challenge 2008 in conjunction with the Evening Leader. They want to find the best cook in the area and give them the opportunity to cook their dish in front of hundreds of food lovers at the 2008 Festival.

The competition will be split into stages. First, cooks will have to devise their own original recipes and send them in to the Bryn Awel Hotel in Mold for judging. These recipes will then be shortlisted by the judges, and the next stage will involve meeting the candidates. The candidates will then be asked to cook and present their dish and finally judging will take place to decide the winner, who will be named as Mold Food and Drink Festival's Cook of the Year 2008.

The prize will be a slot on the stage that Lesley Waters and James Martin used last year, and that two other celebrity chefs will be gracing this year during the Festival weekend.

There are a number of rules that competitors need to adhere to, including the use of at least two items that have been locally-grown or produced, sourced from within a 50 mile radius of Mold. These must be clearly labelled in the ingredients section of the recipe. Entrants must be over the age of 18,

have no professional cooking experience or qualifications, must be free to attend the Festival weekend on September 20 and 21 and must be able to take part in any publicity regarding the competition and the Food Festival. Dishes entered can be a starter, main course or desert, but they must be original.

Chairman of the Mold Hotel and Restaurant Association Greg Shankar said:

"We know there are many fantastic cooks in this area and we want to give them a chance to share their skills with our visitors. By ensuring local produce is used in the dishes we are upholding the very ethos of the Mold Food and Drink Festival, which is to support our local producers and show everyone what fantastic produce we have on our doorstep.

"We are delighted that the Evening Leader is backing us this year. We value their support, and think it is important for local businesses to get involved as much as possible."

The event trebled its visitor numbers last year, compared to 2006, and is hoping for even more success this year. Discussions are underway to find the perfect celebrity chefs to demonstrate their skills, and details on these will be released soon. There are also other plans in the pipeline to ensure the 2008 Festival is the best yet.

There will be the same number of stands available at the New Street Car Park venue as last year, but there will be more space between the stands for visitors. Stand prices will be £160 for the two days.

Stands are expected to be snapped up following the success of last year. Many exhibitors vowed to take their places again this year, saying the atmosphere at the 2007 event was second to none.

Recipes should be posted to or dropped off at the Bryn Awel Hotel, Denbigh Road, Mold, CH7 1BL. Envelopes should be marked Cook's Challenge 2008 and entrants must include their name, age, address and a contact telephone number. The recipe should also be given a name. Those who make the shortlist will be contacted and invited to meet the organisers in the second stage of the event.

Anyone wanting to book a stand for the Festival, which will be taking place on September 20 and 21 at New Street Car Park in Mold, can call the Food Festival office on 01352 758622 ext 200, or email info@moldfoodfestival.co.uk .

Issued by Quadrant Public Relations on behalf of the Mold Hotel and Restaurant Association. For more information contact Jayne Morris on 01352 700208.