The Island's best chefs will do battle over the grill next month for the title of Chef of the Year.

The Bermuda Chef of the Year Contest, formerly known as the Master Chef Cook-Off, will feature 16 local chefs preparing original recipes under the watchful eyes of critical judges and a captivated audience.

For six years, the contest has successfully brought together the two necessary ingredients for a great meal -- excellent food and good people.

And to top it all off, the event raises funds for worthwhile charities. Since 1995, approximately $30,000 has been raised for charities like Meals on Wheels, the Red Cross, Age Concern and PALS.

This year the competition, which will be held over a three-week period in International Import's demonstration kitchen on Par-La-Ville Road, will benefit the Friends of the Hospice/Agape House.

And organisers promise that the April 26 to May 11 gastronomical extravaganza will be the best one yet thanks to a number of improvements.

Event creator Karla Lacey Minors said the contest has changed its name from the Master Chef Cook Off to Bermuda's Chef of the Year Contest in a bid to better reflect the standards in the culinary industry.

"The change was based on the feedback we received from the chefs,'' she explained. "The new name reflects the spirit of the competition.

"The old one might have implied to some that the winning chef had automatically reached the level of a master chef. It takes years of hard work to become a master chef.

"The old title was not used in the way that it is recognised in the industry.'' The new name is not the only adjustment made to this year's competition, Ms Lacey Minors said that the rules and guidelines had also been modified.

"This year we are trying to make it more meaningful for them,'' she said.

"We have further defined the rules which previously left a lot of interpretation open to the chefs.

"For example, the amount of preparation the chefs can do before the actual contest has been given clear definitions. The rules are now clear and there is now no room for interpretation.'' Ms Lacey Minors also said that the competition's finals have been made more challenging for the chefs.

"Before, the finalist would pick their `mystery basket' of ingredients a few days before the finals,'' she explained, "and they had time to sit down and devise a menu.

"Now when they pick their ingredients, they have a set time limit in which they must devise their recipes. They also must submit their menu before they leave the premises.

"Everyone will be coming to the table with the same knowledge of what is expected of them.'' And the winner of this year's event will take home a special grand prize -- a round-trip airline ticket.

"In addition to the other prizes, this year we have a significant grand prize for the winner,'' she said. "Continental Airlines have sponsored a round-trip ticket to anywhere in the US, Mexico or Latin America.'' Who's the best chef in Bermuda? Last year, chef Ben Dingwall from the Ariel Sands Hotel walked away with top honours with his recipe for success -- spicy pork loin with sweet potato fondant and a refreshing mango apple salsa.

The Bermuda Chef's Association will once again oversee the judging of the competition which is expect to draw the `creme de la creme' of the Island's culinary talent.

"We have mailed invitation and entry information to all of Bermuda's chefs,'' Ms Lacey Minors revealed. "Any chef who hasn't received an invitation yet should call International Imports at 292-1661 as soon as possible because the entry deadline is April 7.'' And Ms Lacey Minors reminded anyone interested in attending the event to get their tickets early since the each night of the contest usually sells out quickly.

"The competition provides the public with an eye-level opportunity to watch a select group of chefs prepare a signature dish and enjoy a sample of the preparation and a fine glass of wine while supporting one of Bermuda's top charities,'' she said. "The event is open to the public and anyone who enjoys good food is guaranteed to have a great time.'' The first four nights of the competition (April 26 and 27 and May 3 and 4) will be semi-finals where the winner from each evening is selected by a panel of judges and audience voting.

The four finalist will then face-off on Thursday, May 11 for the title of Bermuda's Chef of the Year.

Tickets for the semi-finals are $45 and $60 for the final. Thanks to the primary sponsorship from Gosling Brothers and The Supermart on Front Street, 100 percent of the ticket proceeds will be donated to Friends of the Hospice - the charitable arm of Agape House.

Tickets go on sale April 3 and can be purchased from the Chefs Shop or any Friends of Hospice volunteer.