Did you ever think Chef Alan Wong, who runs what Gourmet magazine calls the 8th Best Restaurant in the country, would sit down with a bowl of your grandmother’s spaghetti?

Here’s your chance to tickle some pretty famous taste buds: It’s the Second Annual Hamakua Springs Tomato Recipe Contest, and Alan Wong is one of the judges.

Dust off those favorite, original recipes, or come up with a new concoction, and send it in by January 30th for a shot at some great prizes. Contest categories are Entrees; Soups & Bisques; and Preserves & Condiments.

Three cash/gift certificate prizes will be awarded in each category. First Place awards in each category $350; 2nd Place $300, and 3rd Place $250.

Our judges will rate all recipes on a point scale, and the top five recipes in each category will go on to the finals. That means they will be turned over to Chef Allan Okuda and Chef Sandy Barr at the Hawai‘i Community College Food Services department, whose students will prepare the dishes for our panel of judges to taste and rate. That event will be televised on Kama‘aina Backroads, which airs on Oceanic Cable channel 16.

Our three 1st Place winners will also be invited to tour Hamakua Springs Country Farms, with roundtrip airfare to Hilo provided for Neighbor Island winners.

In addition to Wong, judges include Wanda Adams, food editor for the Honolulu Advertiser; Hawai‘i Community College Chancellor Rockne Freitas; UH Board of Regents Member Marlene Hapai; Food Writer Sonia Martinez; Food Writer Joan Namkoong; Hawai‘i Community College School of Continuing Education Program Director Randy Nunokawa; and Hawai‘i Tribune-Herald Food Columnist Audrey Wilson.

“We’re excited about seeing the interesting recipes people come up with,” says Hamakua Springs President Richard Ha. “Last year’s contest was a lot of fun, and having Chef Alan participate this year takes it to a new and exciting level.”

Please read full contest details and rules before entering. Submit recipes to contest@hamakuasprings.com, or by mail to Hamakua Springs Recipe Contest, 421 Lama St., Hilo HI 96720 by January 30, 2008.