Alain Roux and Michel Roux Jr have announced the 18 regional finalists for the Roux Scholarship 2016 competition.

This year's finalists will have two and a half hours to create a recipe for four using one whole pollock, 600g live cockles accompanied by two garnishes, with one using button mushrooms, and a sauce. They will also need to make a dessert using a mystery box of ingredients given to them on the day.

Michel Roux Jr said: “This year we have an interesting mix of French classics and some modern interpretations. I’m pleased to see lots of imaginative ways to prepare Pollock, that I’m looking forward to tasting.” This year's competition sees 11 of the 18 finalists coming from restaurants outside of London with 14 of those new to the competition including two candidates from Simon Rogan's L’Enclume and Fera at Claridge’s. Held simultaneously, the regional finals will take place at University Birmingham and University of West London on Thursday, March 17. Michel Roux Jr, André Garrett and Steve Love will be the judges at University Birmingham with Alain Roux, Andrew Fairlie, David Nicholls and Simon Hulstone judging the group at University of West London. Alain Roux said: “It was great to have the input

Alain Roux said: “It was great to have the input from our new scholar judges this year. André and Simon have great knowledge of the classics and understand the latest trends and techniques at the forefront of modern cooking. They shared the perspective of what it’s like from a competitor’s point of view and this kept the judging lively and fresh.” Six winners picked from the two regional finals will go through to the national final at Westminster Kingsway College, London on Monday, April 4. The 2016 Roux Scholar will be announced at The Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London that evening.

Six winners picked from the two regional finals will go through to the national final at Westminster Kingsway College, London on Monday, April 4. The 2016 Roux Scholar will be announced at The Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London that evening.

The chefs competing in Birmingham:

Joe Bailey, Greenway Hall Golf Club Ben Champkin, L'Enclume Harry Guy, Eden Hotel Collection Adam Harper, Fischer’s, Baslow Hall Thomas Moody, Lower Slaughter Manor David Scarpato, Celtic Manor Resort

The chefs competing in London: Greg Anderson, Morston Hall Martin Carabott, The Royal Automobile Club Gregory Clarke, Midsummer House Michael Cruickshank, The Montagu Arms Hotel Scott Dineen, Goldman Sachs, (BaxterStorey) Luke Fouracre, The Royal Oak Paley Street Paul Matthews, Fieldfisher, (Vacherin) Dimitrios Papapanagioutou, Cliveden House Tim Peirson, Kensington Place Jozef Rogulski, The Stafford Hotel Adam Thomason, Deloitte, (Restaurant Associates) Michael Thompson, Fera at Claridge’s

>>> More on The Roux Scholarship 2016 here