Are you a spud supremo?

The search to find the country's best potato dish is back, with the launch of the Great Potato Challenge 2008?

As well as the chance to win the prestigious title of Great Potato Challenge Champion's title, there is a £1,000 holiday up for grabs for the winners in the two categories: Pub/Restaurant Chef of the Year and Student Chef of the Year.

In this year's competition, judges are looking for pub or restaurant chefs to create a recipe for a main course dish that features potatoes as a focal point.

After the success of last year's newly introduced category for budding chefs, the British Potato Council (BPC) is inviting student chefs studying for a catering qualification is to devise a recipe for a potato-based starter or light-bite dish.

Heike Boelk, marketing executive for the BPC, Heike Boelk commented: "Potatoes are a great British staple with an abundance of varieties offering many different tastes, textures and flavours. What's more, potato dishes provide excellent profit potential - and customers love them and want to see more of them on menus.

"We know there are some wonderful, innovative and tasty potato dishes available and this competition gives both professional and student chefs the opportunity to shine and demonstrate their skills with one of the nation's favourite foods."

Any other ingredients can be incorporated into the dishes, but potatoes, whether boiled, mashed, baked or roasted, must be the main focus and not just an accompaniment. Judges will be looking at the quality of the ingredients, as well as the creativity and overall appeal of the dish.

The closing date for entry is Wednesday October 31 2007. Eentries will be evaluated in a paper judging round, with six finalists chosen from each category to take part in a cook-off final in January 2008.

Entry forms are available from the British Potato Council, along with full terms and conditions, from www.potatoesforcaterers.co.uk or by calling 01865 782227.