Sherry sets sommelier challenge

Entries have opened for the Copa Jerez, an international competition that aims to demonstrate Sherry’s versatility as a food partner.

Organised by the Sherry Institute, the challenge is open to UK sous chef and sommelier teams of all ages.

The UK judges include leading chefs, sommeliers and food writers, including Alexis Gauthier of Gauthier Soho, Ronan Sayburn MS from Hotel du Vin and The Evening Standard’s Charles Campion.

Each team is required to submit a menu entry of three courses, one of which must include Sherry as an ingredient, and all three accompanied by a specially matched Sherry.

From the entries received, 10 teams will be selected for a cook-off at Leith’s School of Food and Wine on 5 October.

In addition to a £1,000 cash prize and a trip to Jerez, the winning team will also earn a place to compete in January’s grand final alongside rivals from Holland, Germany, US, Spain, Japan, Belgium and Denmark.

For more information and entry forms, to be submitted by 6 September, click here.

Gabriel Savage, 17.08.2010