The Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival kicked off yesterday with a host of tasty culinary treats for Bermudians and visitors alike.

?Without a shadow of a doubt, no one will go home from the 2004 Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival without this memory imprinted on their palate,? said organiser Graham Redford of Total Marketing.

Minister of Tourism Ewart Brown and visiting celebrity chefs kicked off the festival yesterday along with the Bermuda Regiment Band and the Gombeys.

?The opening reception will truly be a truly spectacular event as it includes the Junior Culinary Arts Competition with Grand Taste du Vin,? said organiser Mr. Redford.

?It will feature over 100 wines from around the world all vying for people?s taste buds,? he said. ?It then is time for some judging with local and professional chef judges deciding who has made the best chowder, for the Gosling?s and Outerbridge?s Bermuda Fish Chowder Challenge Cups.?

He said as the patrons will also taste the hors d?oeuvres prepared by Bermuda?s finest young culinarians with an opportunity to fill out a ballot to determine the winners of the Junior Culinary Arts Competition.

Thanks to the Bank of Butterfield the winner will be flying to Chicago in May to compete for Bermuda in the National Restaurant Association?s student competition.

The programme included a grilled lunch with Chef Ashbell McElveen and wine expert Anthony Giglio demonstrating wines that are perfect for grilled foods.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the festival, the Escoffier Cup starts today when spectators will ?Watch as local chefs vie for the title of Bermuda?s top chef,? said Mr. Redford. ?The winner will be flying off to Lyons, France next year to observe the world?s most prestigious cooking competition, the Bocuse D?Or.?

There will be cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Jody Adams, Tom Valenti and the Dubys.

As part of the Festival, five famous chefs will be hosting dinners, each in a different noted restaurant around Bermuda including the Mandarin Oriental Elbow Beach Restaurant, Tamarisk at Cambridge Beaches Hotel, Waterlot Inn, Aqua at Ariel Sands Resort and the Newport Room at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

The Sunday programme has cooking demonstrations by a number of famous chefs including Aaron Sanchez, Tom Colicchio, Mark Militello, Cornelius Gallagher and Sushur Lee.

There will also be a champagne brunch at Tom Wadson?s organic farm where chef Jack McDavid will be preparing farm fresh foods, such as smoked organic chicken with poached free-range eggs and mustard hollandaise sauce.

Sunday evening is the last opportunity to participate in the silent auction, funds from which go to the Bermuda Culinary Development Fund, a charitable endeavour set up to assist young local chefs who wish to further their career through advance education abroad.

The festival will end with a Gala Dinner hosted by famed actress Sigourney Weaver and will feature dishes prepared by celebrity chefs.

The Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival is being held at Fairmont Southampton Princess from November 10-16. For more information on the Bermuda Culinary Arts Festival Schedule of events and reservations, please visit www.bermudaculinaryarts.com or call 295-2508.