Food writer Jenny Linford talks floury versus waxy and reveals her favourite potato treats, Oscar Ortiz gives us the low-down on Peru's National Potato Day and we learn why to be described as 'a potato' is quite the compliment in Norway. All this, plus the C-name varieties from the Outer Hebrides...

Oooh recipe alert! Jenny Linford has very kindly let us have the delicious-sounding recipe below for Kimchi Potato Cakes, taken from her wonderful book Potatoes, published by Ryland Peters & Small (£14.99) -  Clare Winfield's photo of the potato cakes, from the book and © Ryland Peters & Small, is shown above


KIMCHI POTATO CAKES 

These small potato cakes – a piquant riff on classic potato dishes, such as Britain’s bubble and squeak or Ireland’s colcannon – are very tasty indeed. Serve with fried eggs, and topped with sliced spring onions for a satisfying breakfast or brunch. 

700 g potatoes, peeled and chopped 

2 spring onions (scallions), finely chopped 

25 g butter 

150 g kimchi, finely chopped 

salt and freshly ground black pepper 

vegetable or sunflower oil, for shallow-frying 

SERVES 4 

Cook the potatoes in boiling, salted water until tender. As they cook, gently fry the spring onions in the butter in a frying pan until softened but not browned. 

Drain the cooked potatoes, add in the fried spring onion with its butter and mash well. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Mix in the kimchi. 

Working with oiled hands, take tablespoons of the mixture and shape into 16 small, even-sized potato cakes. 

Pour enough oil into a large frying pan so that it forms a shallow layer in the pan and heat through over a medium heat. Add in the potato cakes, frying in batches if need be, and cook for a few minutes on each side until browned. Remove, drain on paper towels and serve at once.