Food News, with Christine Rutter

BUDDING chefs are being challenged to use their cookery know-how to conjure up a futuristic dish which tickles the tastebuds - and marks Blackburn with Darwen Council's move to unitary status.

We are looking for a truly scrumptious concoction which symbolises the future for the towns and more than £200-worth of prizes are up for grabs.

The winner will also receive countywide recognition as their recipe is served up to hundreds of hungry diners at Blakey's Cafe Bar in Blackburn town centre to mark the launch of the unitary authority in the first week of April.

To tempt modest cooks out of their shells we've teamed up with Blackburn with Darwen Council to offer a fabulous prize to the winner.

Two season tickets for classical concerts performed by the Halle and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, valued at around £200, and a meal voucher for Blakey's worth £20 are up for grabs.

Chefs can draw their inspiration from any country.

Dishes could range from a lively, warming recipe using Lancashire ingredients to a fragrant, colourful meal inspired by a sun-drenched Caribbean island.

Maybe it's a delicious meal you've served up to family and friends for years or a new creation using fragrant herbs and tantalising spices. But remember the beauty of many dishes comes from their simplicity, allowing the ingredients to speak for themselves and their flavours to shine through.

The judge is chef lecturer at Accrington and Rossendale College chef lecturer Neil Hogg, who is looking for an inventive dish with freshness and flavour which is simple enough to prepare but deliciously satisfying.

The only criteria is that the recipe must be a savoury dish which can be served as a main course.

So what are you waiting for? Get cooking! Entries should be sent to Unitary Dish Competition, Food News, Editorial Department, Lancashire Evening Telegraph, Blackburn, BB1 1HT. Closing date is Thursday, March 12.

The usual Lancashire Evening Telegraph competition rules apply.

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