Nine chefs from six Bermuda restaurants are getting ready to compete in the annual City Food Festival taking place next week.

Four of the competitors are from Chop Fusion, with the rest from The Reefs, Pompano Beach Club, Newport, Wild Wing Wednesday and Rosa’s.

The launch was announced yesterday at the Bermuda Gas showroom, where the first two phases of the competition will take place.

The festival begins on Monday and runs until Saturday, and includes a weeklong schedule of food and wine samplings involving restaurants around the Island.

Dakia O’Brien, the owner of Wild Wing Wednesday and last year’s winning chef, was at the launch cooking vegetarian fritters to get everyone in the mood.

Attending the festival will allow the public to sample food from a string of restaurants without breaking the bank.

Kevin Smith, events and marketing coordinator at City of Hamilton, said: “The main highlight is the diversity of food that we offer in Bermuda. A lot of people are not familiar with it so we want to encourage people to come out and try new things. In the current economy not many people can get out and have dinner here or take my family out there so here is your opportunity to sample all different types of restaurants and food at an accommodating price.”

The event begins with the first phase of the Chef Competition at the Bermuda Gas showroom on Serpentine Road from 5.30pm on Monday. The second phase is on Tuesday, also from 5.30pm.

Tickets for these two events, which include food and wine samplings, are $35 per night or $60 for both nights.

The chefs must concoct a dish using mystery ingredients selected 48 hours before the cook-off.

On March 20, there will be a special wine tasting at Gosling’s Wine Cellar from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, when a variety of red and white wines will be served in Riedel stemware glasses. Tickets are $100 and include a four-piece Riedel wine glass set.

The festival culminates in the City Street Festival on March 21 from 3pm to 9pm, with food and drink being served at the City Hall car park. The event is free and tickets are available for food and drinks.

At 5pm on March 21, City Hall will host the finale of the Chef Competition, with cash prizes and kitchenware going to the winners.

There will also be a food competition for members of the public to enter. There will be four categories in the competition: rum swizzle, fish cakes, fish chowder and a loquat dish. To enter e-mail events@cityhall.bm. Festival tickets are available from ptix.bm