Just a reminder to all our readers working in the back of house: Applications for the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship 2018 competition are currently open. The deadline to get yours in is April 2, 2018. Here are the details:

Celebrating its sixth year as Canada’s largest search to find the future stars of the culinary scene, the Hawksworth Young Chef Scholarship 2018 competition is officially open for applications. Established in 2013, the Foundation will continue its work to encourage aspiring, young chefs from across Canada by giving them the chance to showcase their cooking skills in front of a panel of the country’s most esteemed chefs and critics. The competition winner will take home the grand prize of $10,000 and a placement at one of the top restaurant’s in the world.

Once again, regional heats will be held across the country through May in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. The Scholarship’s founder and owner of Vancouver’s Hawksworth Restaurant, Nightingale and Bel Café, Chef David Hawksworth will be joined by leading chefs from across the country. Past judges have included Chef Anthony Walsh of Oliver & Bonacini Group, Chef Connie de Sousa of Charcut Roast House, Chef Derek Dammann of Maison Publique, Chef Lee Cooper of L’Abattoir, Chef Marc–André Royal of La Bête à Pain, Chef Mark McEwan of The McEwan Group, Chef Michael Noble of NOtaBLEand The Nash and Chef Scott Jaeger of The Pear Tree.

“I’m so grateful to the judges and culinary community for their generous support. In the past five years, we’ve been amazed at the level of excellence these young chefs bring to the table and are sure this year will prove no different” explains Chef David Hawksworth. “As always, I’m excited to meet these brilliant young chefs and truly proud to play a part in the shaping of their fruitful careers as chefs.”

Throughout the regional heats, 10 chosen candidates will compete against each other – and the clock – to create a main course dish for four using specified pantry ingredients within the 90 minutes given. The top two from each heat will carry forward to the final event, where they’re allotted three hours to prepare and plate four identical main course dishes and four identical dessert dishes using the selection of surprise Black Box ingredients and common pantry items. The top prize will be awarded to the young Canadian chef who displays the drive, passion and skill to succeed as judged by the panel of industry professionals.

The nationwide search begins on May 5 in Calgary, quickly followed by the Vancouver Heat on May 11. The competition moves eastward with the Montreal heat on May 24 and finishing in Toronto on May 26. Following a summer to finesse their skills and build their excitement, the Final competition will be held in October, when one deserving chef will take home the grand prize and the bragging rights of being Canada’s top young chef. Deadline for applications is Monday April 2, 2018.

For more information or to apply please visit www.hawksworthscholarship.com.