Eateries have until Monday 8 February to get their entries in. The winner will be announced following a 'cook-off' in front of a panel of judges on 29 March. The winner of the award will be the restaurant or takeaway recognised as producing the best curry with side dish and bread or rice, as well as achieving high standards of food hygiene in their premises. All restaurants or takeaways entering the competition will be visited by an Environmental Health Officer who will check that good food safety practices are being met. The highest scoring premises will then enter the second round - a tasting of the chef's chosen dish consisting of main course, side dish, bread or rice. The competing curries will be tasted by the judges and the best curry chef will be awarded a trophy as well as the title of Shropshire Council curry chef of the year 2010. Councillor David Roberts, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for local environment and economy, said: "This competition is a great way to highlight and promote the very many excellent curry houses that we have across the county. Shropshire Council is committed to helping local businesses and this is a great way to help us do so." Invitations to enter the competition have been sent to all the curry restaurants and takeaways known to Shropshire Council's environmental health officers. If you haven't received an invite you are still welcome to enter and can request an application form by calling 01746 713152.