New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS): The Annual Metro Chef Awards, known for recognising excellence in the kitchen, has launched a Student Chef of the Year Award to honour pupils from various hospitality institutes.

"We have introduced special category for students this year. All these years, only professionals were put to test. We gave open invitation to institutes all over the country," Virender S. Datta, Chairman, International Institute of Culinary Arts, told IANS.

Organised by Indian Culinary Forum (ICF), this year marks the 10th edition of Annual Metro Chef Awards 2013. The organising committee of ICF is being headed by Chairman Anil Bhandari.

The four-day competition, which started Wednesday, saw chefs from hotels like Le Meridien and Ashok cooking their best dishes in categories like Master Chef International Cuisine Award, Master Chef Oriental Cuisine Award and Kitchen Artist Award.

"The dishes are judged on various factors like food presentation, taste, innovation, hygiene and educational qualification of the chef, among other things. The dishes should be practical to serve. Everything should be edible," said Chef Vivek Saggar, secretary-PR and Media, ICF.

The award ceremony is on Nov 23 and this year cash prizes have been introduced in various categories. A Rs.35,000 cash prize will be given to winners in three sections - Lady Chef of the Year, Golden Hat and Silver Hat.

Winners of titles like Master Chef International Cuisine, Master Chef Oriental Cuisine, Master Chef Baker and Master Chef South India Cuisine will take home a cash prize of Rs.20,000.