Barbecue chefs to cook up storm (+ video)

Mount Maunganui will be heating up over the chilly winter season by bringing the New Zealand Gourmet BBQ Championships to downtown Mount this weekend.

Mainstreet manager Peter Melgren said the event would not resemble a typical backyard barbecue.

"This isn't the typical stubbies, black singlet and jandals type cooking, this is gourmet cooking. It's something different for people to see."

The competition for high-end barbecue cooks meant some recipes would be kept top secret, he said. "When you get to this level, they are very secretive about what sauces or ingredients they use."

Food lovers can expect cooking demonstrations and food tastings.

The competition would be held in two sections: the longer charcoal division and the two-hour gas barbecue contest.

Mr Melgren was pleased to see about 78 per cent of teams were cooking by charcoal.

"Charcoal barbecues are something I grew up with and the passion people have cooking with smoke infusion is growing."

He was overwhelmed by how many teams had entered.

"The number of teams competing has well exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were pretty high."

The contest in the Phoenix carpark is part of a big drive by Mount Mainstreet to introduce new events to the off-season and give old events a facelift.

The cook-off event will be held this Saturday, June 27 at the Phoenix carpark.