Four candidates have been shortlisted for the 2014 Taste of Grampian Aspiring Young Chef accolade.
They are Mintlaw Academy’s Betsy Pepper, Kipras Preidys from the Scottish Lighthouse Museum in Fraserburgh, and North East of Scotland (NES) College students Brogan Tilney and Louise Lee.
The contenders, all aged 16-19, will cook a two-course meal from a menu of their own creation next weekend under the watchful eye of the judges.
Their chosen starter and main course must showcase Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb, specially selected pork and a local seafood.
Organisers have also called for menus to reflect what visitors to the region would like to sample to coincide with the 2014 Year of Homecoming.
The culinary competition will take place in ring three at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, during the Taste of Grampian event on June 7.
Press and Journal columnist Lady Claire Macdonald is one of the judges and celebrity chef Nick Nairn will present the prizes.
The winner will be given two weekends of work experience at Mr Nairn’s Native restaurant in Aberdeen and the Nick Nairn Cook School, as well as £200 courtesy of QMS, to buy food preparation equipment.
Now in its 15th year, Taste of Grampian is set to bring in the crowds with a day of events, tastings and more than 160 food, drink and craft exhibitors.
Highlights include a cookery duel between Mr Nairn and Paul Rankin.
Last year’s festival attracted record numbers with more than 12,000 people flocking to the region to sample its finest fare.
Tickets for this year’s demonstrations are available via the Taste of Grampian website, from the Press and Journal or at the information desk in the Exchange Exhibition on the day.
For full details of all the exhibitors, the times of the cookery demonstrations and all the entertainment look out for the Taste of Grampian supplement in the Press and Journal on Thursday.