Students invited to show culinary skills

Students are being invited to show off their culinary skills in a Masterchef style contest aimed at showing how the household budget can last longer.

The contest, held throughout the autumn term, will see would-be Jamie Olivers and Nigella Lawsons pit their wits against each other to see who can make the best use of leftovers.

And students taking part in the event will have the chance to win tasty prizes such as tickets and transport to Masterchef Live in London, meals at a top Manchester restaurant and cookery courses provided by some of the city's top chefs.

Competitors taking part in the Student Masterchef contest will work in pairs to take part in heats at the Manchester Metropolitan University's Hollins Building, creating dishes from typical leftover ingredients such as roasted chicken, sausages, vegetables and spaghetti.

A panel, including food critics and chefs, will then judge the dishes according to taste and appearance, and decide who will go into the next round.

The contest has been organised by Manchester City Council as part of WRAP's Love Food Hate Waste campaign, aiming to promote the importance of reusing leftover food.

Councillor Nigel Murphy, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for the Environment, said: "We know Manchester's students are keen chefs, so this is a really good opportunity for them to show us what they can do - and to learn that you can turn leftovers into tasty meals.

"I'd like to ask any students who are interested to take part. You never know - you could be the next Jamie Oliver or Nigella Lawson."

Anyone interested in taking part in the contest should e-mail their name and contact details to recycleformanchester@manchester.gov.uk to register their interest.

Meanwhile, students are also being invited to set up their own Come Dine With Me style events, cooking three course meals using leftovers.

Anyone interested should visit the City Council's food waste page on Facebook - www.facebook.com/recycleformanchester for further information on this competition and all information about recycling in Manchester.