Kerry eyes the competition

Senior chef de partie Kerry Fleet has set her sights on winning this year's Conference Centres of Excellence (CCE) Chefs' Challenge competition.

The competition is open to all chefs who work in either CCE venues or those affiliated to the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) and the competition, whilst friendly, is fierce.

The brief for each competitor is to produce a three course meal, with matching wines, that would be suitable for an end of conference dinner for a large group. Whilst the starter and dessert can be of the chef's choosing, the main course must include a stipulated ingredient. This year the ingredient is a Poulet de Bresse chicken.

Working with Head Chef Nick Jeffels, Kerry conceived a classical menu, using few ingredients and emphasising simple, clean flavours. Having undergone many trials and critical tastings by colleagues, the end result, which can be downloaded opposite, is both delicious and, we feel, a potential winner.

The menu was submitted to the judging panel in late July and by early August, Kerry will know if she has progessed to the finals. These will be held in October and feature a nerve-racking 2½ hour cook off and tasting, just like Masterchef! Until then, Kerry, like her colleagues, has her fingers firmly crossed.