Ten of Exeter and Teignbridge's finest curry chefs will be putting their best dishes to the test at @34 Restaurant, Exeter College from 10.45am this morning (Wednesday 19 February). At stake will be the prestigious title of Exeter & Teignbridge Curry Chef of the Year 2014. Following on from last year's successful competition, which was won by Mohammed Syed Walid, of the Real India, in South Street, Exeter, Exeter City Council will again be joining forces with Teignbridge District Council to combine the event.

Contestants have one hour to prepare and serve a curry, a complementary side dish and a bread or rice dish. Cooking will be before the gaze of a distinguished panel of local judges under the chairmanship of John Wheeler, Deputy Head of Faculty Hospitality & Catering at Exeter College. The other judges will be Cllr Keith Owen, Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Kevin Lake, Teignbridge District Council's Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, and Indian Cookery expert and author Binny Ludlow.

Chefs will be judged on their ability to produce food with winning aroma, texture, taste and appearance. There will be one winner from Exeter and one from Teignbridge with the victorious two going forward to take part in a cook-off at the South West Festival of Food and Drink.

Cllr Keith Owen, Exeter City Council's Lead Councillor for Environment, Health and Wellbeing, said: "Once again we've had a fabulous response from local restaurant owners, who clearly enjoy the competition . The event gives local chefs the chance to be creative and put their skills to the challenge. It also helps the Council to promote good practice in food safety and hygiene and develop its relationship with local caterers."

Cllr Kevin Lake, Teignbridge District Council's Executive Spokesperson for Environmental Services, is a full-time chef and trained at Exeter College.

He said: "We're looking for the best curry chef in Teignbridge and Exeter. The competition can often be hotter than the curries being rustled up so it will be a real eye opener to be able to watch such fine skills on display. It's good to be working with Exeter City Council again and I can't wait to get stuck into the judging!"