LIFESTYLE NEWS - Kiddy chefs across the Eastern Cape are beginning to fire up their ovens and sharpen their carving knives as they hone their culinary skills for the region’s Spar Junior Chef competition.

Entries for next month’s competition, which is open to primary school youngsters in Grades 5, 6 and 7, will close on Thursday, June 30.

The cook-off, which is now in its fifth year, provides young chefs with a chance to show their credentials in the kitchen, said Spar Eastern Cape promotions and advertising manager Wendy Westraadt.

“We are about family, health, passion and entrepreneurship and this initiative gives aspiring young chefs a platform to show what they can do while building their confidence,” said Westraadt promising that while the competition was always keen in pursuit of great prizes, the children would enjoy “a great day of fun in the kitchen”.

“Each semi-finalist will receive a hamper of goodies while the master chef will be taking home a tablet plus R5 000 in shopping vouchers to the mall of their choice.”

She added that there would be plenty of encouragement for the entrants and that in-house chefs would provide tips and direction. While the kids have fun in the kitchen, Westraadt said parents could look forward to “tons of nerves”.

“They get more nervous than the semi-finalists as they watch their kids take part in what is a confidence-boosting event.”

Would-be chefs can enter by collecting an entry form from any Spar outlet in the Eastern Cape and sending in the recipe they most love to cook. The top entrants will be contacted for a brief interview, with three semi-finalists announced afterwards.