THE annual Bermuda Fish Chowder Challenge kicks off next week.

Amateur and professional chefs are encouraged to enter the competition, which aims to identify the island's best.

Winners will be announced in October as part of planned festivities at the Bermuda Gourmet Getaway Viking Village.

The first of three preliminary competitions begins next week when chefs at the eastern end of the island will provide a sample of their finest for tasting, during St. George's Market Night celebrations on August 29. Similar competitions will be held in Dockyard on September 5 and in Hamilton, during Harbour Nights, on September 13.

Winners from each will then go head-to-head in battle at the Bermuda Gourmet Getaway Viking Village ? October 28 for amateurs and October 29 for professional chefs ? with last year's winners, amateur Basil Outerbridge and Sandip Roy of Cambridge Beaches.

Said Graham Redford, managing director of Total Marketing & Communications: "A competition that is open to all residents of Bermuda, the Bermuda Fish Chowder Challenge has two categories, professional and amateur.

"The professional category is for all chefs and cooks presently working for or associated with a restaurant or hotel on the island, or now retired or not presently working. The amateur category is for all home cooks and excludes professional chefs now retired or presently not working.

"There are three judges besides the public balloting and the scoring will be a combination of the public's ballots and the judge's ballots. All entrants will receive a $125 gift certificate courtesy of The Supermart, upon their completion of the preliminary round. This is a great opportunity for chefs to showcase their talent in the kitchen, but it is now crunch time. The Market Nights in St. George's will be the last chance for those people living in the East Parishes."

Anyone wishing to participate in the challenge should contact Kim Selley on 295-2508 or, via e-mail, kimtotalgroup.bm.

Preliminary chowder competitions begin at 7 p.m.