Waihi Beach chef takes food prize

The Porch Kitchen and Bar chef Brad King matched his award-winning dish Boarack Meets Underbelly with Monteith's Pilsner and stole the show at the 13th annual Monteith's Beer and Wild Food Challenge.
The culinary showdown saw seven chefs from around the country cook-off with their best dishes in front of invited guests and supporters at the Auckland Seafood School.
"We'll keep the dish on the menu here at least until we have a change of menu," says The Porch owner Riaan Botha, who encourages people to give it the taste test before their celebration party on September 17.
"We've got a couple of live bands, but it's a platter night," he says - Boarack meets Underbelly won't feature at its own party, but chef Brad King will.
He and owners Carla and Riaan are still on a high after their victory in New Zealand's longest-running food and beer competition.
"It was just awesome and visually fantastic. All the chefs were in one kitchen and you could walk around them and ask them questions. It was very relaxed and informal," says Carla.
"The judges said competition was tough. Vinnies is one of the top fine-dining restaurants in Auckland and the finalists were all of a high standard."
Riaan says judges Kerry Tyack, chef Mark Gregory and foodie Allyson Gofton had a shortlist of four but were looking for that x-factor. "That makes the win even more satisfying."
Brad says, "Meals went out to the judges who "gave nothing away on what they thought of each meal".
"They just pointed out the best aspects of each dish."
A Karangahake resident, Brad offers a venue and catering for weddings and other functions along with outside catering.