Enter student chefs into Great Potato Challenge

Catering students are being invited to submit their recipes for a main potato dish for the chance of winning £500 worth of prizes in the Great Potato Challenge 2009.

Student chefs will have to demonstrate their knowledge of the humble spud through devising a potato-based main course while showing their understanding of how to cook different varieties of potatoes.

The competition launched by the Potato Council is aimed at raising the profile of the root vegetable as a versatile and tasty ingredient.

Potato Council Marketing Executive Heike Kroemer, said: “Potatoes are a staple ingredient of any catering kitchen and it is crucial that chefs are aware of the many benefits they bring. Potatoes offer good margins for profit at a time of rising food prices. In fact, we know that demand for quality potato-based dishes on menus is rising and consumers want to be able to order more of them.

“By encouraging the next generation of chefs to think about the many varieties available – offering different tastes, textures and flavours - and how best to prepare and cook them, we hope to meet that demands in the future.”

To enter, student chefs must submit their recipe (downloadable from www.potatoesforcaterers.co.uk​) for a dish where potato is the main ingredient, although others may be incorporated into it. Judges will be looking at the quality of ingredients, the creativity and appeal of the dish, and the overall understanding of the potato variety used. The winner will be awarded a selection of prizes worth £500, while second and third places will receive prizes worth £300 and £200 respectively.

The closing date for entries is 12 December, when a selection of shortlisted finalists will be invited to compete in a live cook-off final in February.