ELEVEN of the region’s top chefs will be feeling the heat of the kitchen this week as they battle it out in a tough competition.

The Great North Menu Challenge 2014 will be held at Darlington College on Thursday (October 30) and features head chefs, sous chefs and chefs de partie from prestigious hotels in the region such as Seaham Hall and, Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington.

The chefs will prepare a selection of starters, main courses and desserts on the day, and four catering students from the college will act as commis chefs on the day

Flavours of the North-East will feature heavily in the menu and dishes include a duo of Northumberland hogget, Thistleyhaugh Farm guinea fowl confit leg and even a Geordie cocktail with panna cotta.

Judging takes place on the day and the winning chefs will see their dishes served at the annual North-East Hoteliers Association dinner in February, which is being held at Hardwick Hall, in Sedgefield.

Kate Roe, principal of Darlington College, said the college was proud to host the competition.

She said: “This is a great opportunity to showcase our fantastic facilities and work with our partners in the catering industry.

"Many of these top chefs will have started their career through colleges such as ours and this will be a great learning experience for our students."