Organisers of an international chef award that's been dubbed the Nobel Prize of cooking are inviting foodies in the know to cast their choice before nominations close on 30 April.

Launched earlier this year by a group of some of the world's top chefs including Gaston Aucrio and Joan Roca (whose restaurant El Celler de Can Roca is the current title-holder for world's best restaurant), The Basque Culinary World Prize was created to honour industry leaders who use gastronomy as a powerful force for change.

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More than being a talented chef, the winner will have improved society through cooking be it through the invention of a culinary innovation; a commitment to social responsibility; sustainability; health or environmental campaigns; cultural projects or work that has a positive impact on the food industry. The award was launched earlier this year out of the Basque Culinary Centre.

“With this prize, we hope to share with the world dining_tatler_stories of chefs that are using gastronomy for a better future. We need people to nominate those who are fighting for it in any way, even on a small scale: we are all part of the revolution,” said one of Italy's star chefs, Massimo Bottura.

Jurors include some of gastronomy's biggest heavy-hitters, including Heston Blumenthal, Dan Barber, Ferran Adrià, René Redzepi, Michel Bras, Roca, Bottura and  Acurio — all Michelin-starred chefs.

A list of 20 finalists — chosen by the jury — will be released in May and the winner announced 11 July. To be considered for the prize, chefs have to be nominated online by a professional from the world of gastronomy. The winner will receive €100,000 to devote to an institution or project of their choice that demonstrates the wider role of gastronomy in society. Nominations close 30 April.

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