Tico chefs will start polishing up their chops for “Maestro culinario,” a gourmet cooking contest, which organizers officially launched Wednesday.

Wannabe contestants can sign up for the event at www.maestroculinario.cr through March 31.

Coordinated by French chef Vincent Boutinaud, the contest will include an event in which contestants have to cook the best dish using such compulsory ingredients as steak, heart of palm and peach palm, known to Ticos as pejibaye.

May and June will see finals in the northwest province of Guanacaste and San José respectively, while the grand finale cook-off will take place Aug. 24 and 25 at Hotel Ramada Plaza Herradura, in Heredia, north of San José.

Organized by the Costa Rican Tourism Board, the event includes sponsorship by gourmet import company Delika, as well as Café Britt and Ramada.