THE Flavours of Herefordshire Awards, celebrating the very best of food and drink in the county, are well under way in time for this year’s Flavours of Herefordshire Festival, which will be hosted for the first time in its seven years in the city centre on October 27 and 28.

The ‘best steak’ category, open to any local business that sells, produces or rears the best rib-eye steak in the county was judged on Friday.

Judges were tasked with blind tasting Herefordshire’s finest rib eye steak at Herefordshire College of Technology’s Cider Orchard training kitchen and restaurant.

Shortlisted Flavours of Herefordshire best steak entries will be listed at visit herefordshire.co.uk/members.

The Young Chef in Education and the Young Chef in Industry categories are the next opportunity to showcase the great young talent from the county and entry closes on June 12.

Thanks to the support of Axon Enterprises and Electrolux Foodservice, this year there is an amazing opportunity for one overall outstanding young chef to win the top ‘money can’t buy’ prize – an all-expenses paid hotel and travel trip for two to the International Milan Host event held in Italy in 2013.

“This prize is a fantastic opportunity for the winner to visit the most prestigious catering equipment exhibition in Europe,” said Paul Emberton of Hereford-based Axon Enterprises.

“Axon hopes this prize will provide a springboard for upcoming talent in the industry and education sector, and to showcase their flair and passion with their recognition rewarded with this exceptional prize.”

Working in partnership with Herefordshire College of Technology, Visit Herefordshire hopes this will encourage more young people to choose this career path at a time when opportunities seem few and far between elsewhere.

HCT offers both full-time and apprenticeship provision in Hospitality and Catering, giving learners real routes in to this vibrant industry.

Entries to liz.hill@visit herefordshire.co.uk, on 01432 268430 or via visithereford shire.co.uk/members