A BLAENAVON cooking school is hoping to win a top award after being shortlisted for the prize.

The Chef’s Room Fish and Cookery School in Blaenavon has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Welsh category of the 2013 British Cookery School Awards.

Founder Lindy Wildsmith said: " We are thrilled to be short listed again this year. Winning last year made such a difference."

With more than 400 cookery schools now operating across the county, the British Cookery School Awards 2013 honour excellent cookery schools that go above and beyond to deliver a top notch cookery school experience.

The Chef’s Room tutors include resident chef Franco Taruschio from Le Marche, Italy and Alex Mackay who will be creating a menu of classic French dishes.

New to the school is Malaysian chef Shaun Naen who will be teaching wok skills and his native food.

The Chef’s Room is up against stiff competition from other schools across the country.

Entrants to the Best Welsh category had to demonstrate why their school is the best at its particular area of expertise and how they differentiate themselves from competitors.

The Chef's Room's classes are based on the premise of ' prepare it, cook it, eat it 'and run in the art Chef’s Room at Vin Sullivan’s premises in Blaenavon.

Food writer and cook Ms Wildsmith runs the courses with chef and consultant Mr Taruschio OBE, who is patron of the Abergavenny Food Festival and founder of the legendary Walnut Tree restaurant.

Ms Wildsmith has written many successful cookery books, and has run the G2 club in Ross-on-Wye staging cookery demonstrations, lessons and events for more than ten years.

She has also taught cooking along with Mr Taruschio at the Hill in Abergavenny for much of that time.

The finalists were officially announced on October 3 and the winners will be revealed in a London awards ceremony on November 11.