The finalists for the 2015 Game Chef of the Year announced

The line-up for this year's Game Chef of the Year final has been revealed. The nationwide search was launched in September with the aim of finding the best upcoming professional game chef in the UK.

The award is organised by Braehead Foods in association with The Staff Canteen and Highland Game, and applicants were asked to submit one game based starter and one game based main dish. The judges were then tasked with picking the freshest and most innovative dishes as the finalists.

The finalists all receive £100 and will take part in a cook off on January 26 at The Cook School Scotland.

They will prepare, cook and present two game dishes to the judges: Michelin star chefs Tom Kitchin and Dominic Jack, Braehead Foods consultant chef Paul Gayler MBE, Braehead Food executive chef Joe Queen and Ian McAndrew of the Academy of Culinary Arts.

Joe Queen said: "The judges were really impressed with not only the number of applications received this year, but also the high standard of entry. We found it difficult to choose just 10 finalists from all the fantastic entries but in the end we have selected our final ten and look forward to seeing what they can produce at the cook off."

The winner will receive a trip to Sweden to hunt wild boar, courtesy of Highland Game.

The finalists are:

David Barnett, The Torridon Hotel, Wester Ross

Jonathan Cook, Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh

Darryl Duffy, Prestonfield House Hotel, Edinburgh

Spud Henderson, Craig Millar @ 16 West End, Fife

Keith Hooker, Restaurant Associates, London

Neil Ireland, Norwood Hall Hotel, Aberdeen

Karl Martin, Old Downton Lodge, Shropshire

Adam Newth, Castlehill Restaurant, Dundee

Martin Zahumensky, Playboy Club, London

Stephen Water, Loch Lomond Golf Club, Alexandria

For more information please visit www.braeheadfoods.co.uk/gamechef

Watch Tom Kitchin prepare a grouse dish: