Three finalists to battle it out for £5,000 charity prize

The finalists consist of two school teams, from Acklam School in Middlesbrough and Waddesdon Church of England School in Aylesbury, and an amateur cook from Winchester. The three recipes short listed for the final are: chicory and chorizo scones, stuffed pasta in basil infused tomato sauce, and chicory tart with goats cheese and thyme. The cook off final will take place in The Netherlands on 21-22 November. The competitors will see chicory being grown and will meet people who are responsible for producing it. They will then prepare their own chicory recipe which will be judged by English and Dutch cooks, food writers and VIPs. In addition to the £5,000 top prize, there is a second prize of £1,000 and a third of £500. The competition has been launched by The Dutch Produce Association. Chicory is a versatile vegetable which can be used raw in salads or cooked in a wide variety of dishes. www.chicorychallenge.co.uk www.chicorychallenge.co.uk