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When the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain—Louisville, Ky.-based KFC Corporation—added KFC Famous Bowls^™ to its menu last year, it was the most memorable new product launch in 2006, according to a survey of more than 1,000 consumers conducted by comScore Networks, Inc.

Famous Bowls were an instant hit because of the hearty layers of mashed potatoes, sweet corn, bite-sized crispy chicken and three-cheese blend. Earlier this year, KFC Biscuit Bowls joined the line, capitalizing on the success of the original mashed potato bowls by adding a KFC buttermilk biscuit and replacing brown gravy with white.

“People love KFC Famous Bowls because we combine all the favorites on our menu in a convenient, portable and hearty package,” says James O'Reilly, chief marketing officer for KFC.

You don’t have to be a major chain to wow customers with mashed potato bowls. Caddo Parish School District serving Shreveport, La., for example, offers them twice monthly on its revolving lunch menu for sixth- to eighth-graders. Pear Tree Catering and Events based in Buffalo Grove, Ill., offers a mashed potato bowl featuring oven-roasted chicken breast in cacciatore sauce atop a bed of garlic mashed potatoes, garnished with fresh oregano and rimmed with green beans, among its composed-plate selections.

Keith Darling, Basic American Foods’ corporate chef, says, "Mashed potato bowls are a fun, new center-of-the-plate item on menus. Not only are they simple to prepare, but endless varieties are possible to accommodate virtually every palate and cuisine trend."

“Use mashed potatoes as the flavor base,” Darling says. “Then top them with different flavorings or ingredients to create a theme dish.”

Ideas for mashed potato bowls might include an Italian Parmesan Bowl, Asian Bowl or a Southwest Veggie Bowl.

With mashed potato bowl variations, the sky’s the limit. For inspiration, visit www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/baf/businessbuilding and click on Mashed Potato Bowls Flyer in the table of contents. For mashed potato bowl recipes, click on www.baf.com/recipes/560