BUDDING chef Saba Choudhury will try and tempt the tastebuds of judges in a bid to win a major culinary competition next month.

The 22-year-old from Five Spice Restaurant at Hollies Hill, near Belbroughton, will be doing battle with rival cooks from across the Midlands in a bid to land the coveted title of The People's Favourite Chef 2015.

Saba is one of five chefs from the West Midlands looking to serve up a treat at the South & City College in Birmingham on January 7 when the regional title will be at stake.

The contestants will be looking to impress celebrity chefs and food critics by producing their own creative signature dish.

Then the ten regional winners will cook-off against each other to decide the overall champion.

Saba has been head chef at the Five Spices for the past two years.

He previously worked at Lye's Balti Bazaar where he learned his trade under the watchful eye of Sadiq Miah, who is now manager and executive chef at the Five Spice.

Saba specialises in Bangladeshi dishes but said: "I still haven't decided what I'm going to cook for the final as yet."

Saba worked part-time as a chef at the Balti Bazaar while still at school before moving onto Five Spice which was previously known as Blue Ginger and prior to that The Four Winds.

Mr Miah said: "I spotted Saba's potential when he came to work in the kitchen at Balti Bazaar and I've been training him ever since. He's young, vibrant and energetic. He's got that spark about him and tries to do something different.

"I think he stands a good chance in the competition."

The event has been organised by Master Chef Promotions who are planning a red carpet style awards ceremony in Birmingham which will help raise money for Bangladesh orphans.

All chefs taking part in the competition have been nominated by the public.