In a major countywide push to inspire a generation of Kent’s pupils to create and cook healthily, the Michelin listed brasserie, The Swan in West Malling, is launching a recipe writing/cookery competition.

With the Kent Messenger Group supporting the Cygnet Award, secondary school children between the ages of 11 and 16 (Year Groups 7 to 11) are being invited to write a recipe for a healthy starter, main dish or dessert using local and seasonal ingredients and enter it online before Friday 31 October via The Swan’s web-site at www.theswanwestmalling.co.uk.

The six best entries across the county will go forward to a live cook off at The New Line Learning Academy in Loose, Maidstone, on Saturday, November 22, in front of a panel of judges - including The Swan’s head chef Scott Goss, food and drinks editor at the KM Group, George Ward, and recipe book writer and food PR consultant Sarah Orton, of WAC PR & Marketing.

The judges will be looking for the use of seasonal/local ingredients, healthy ideas, originality and practicality. The creators of the best two dishes (in Year Groups 7-8 and 9-11) will be presented with a prestigious Cygnet Award, have their recipes appear on The Swan menu and win a host of other prizes.

Click here for the entry form