Foodservice giant Brakes has teamed up with John Lewis to launch the BritDish chef competition for British Food Fortnight.

The contest will see four of the most innovative British dishes selected and served in John Lewis’ Place to Eat or Brasserie eateries nationwide during the two week campaign from 18 September to 3 October.

Entrants will be asked to create a dish for one of four categories - a sandwich, starter, main or dessert. Dishes must use British ingredients and autumnal products wherever possible.

The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to the Rungis wholesale market in Paris which originated in the 10th century and is now the largest wholesale food market in the world spanning its own 10 hectare area in the southern suburbs of the city.

Brakes development chef Richard Wells said: “Our customers are looking for the best seasonal British products. We aim to source and promote the very best. It will be great for us, our valued suppliers and the general public suppliers to see John Lewis chefs innovate celebrated dishes with the best of British autumnal products.”

Entry to the competition is designed and open to John Lewis chefs. Chefs who wish to enter should complete an entry form and return it to Brakes with a photograph of their dish by 20 July.

Three finalists from each of the four categories will be invited to Brakes Food Innovation Centre in London’s Covent Garden on 4 August for a one hour live ‘cook off’ - where finalists will have one hour to prepare cook and serve their dish from scratch. All ingredients will be supplied by Brakes and entrants can us their own presentation crockery.

Judges will include Brakes development chef Richard Wells, group account director Michael O’Reilly along with Marco Zacharia and Philippe Bacconier from John Lewis.

A winner will be chosen and all four winning dishes showcased at John Lewis stores across the UK during British Food Fortnight.

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