The aprons and the garlic are pressed, oven tops gleaming and it's spatulas at dawn as two Bay identities prepare for a hotly contested cook-off to compete for the illustrious title of "Noel Leeming's The Spatula".
In a David versus Goliath scenario, radio host Will Johnston from The Hits Bay of Plenty is pitting his own amateur cooking skills against uber-talented local celebrity chef Peter Blakeway.
The cook-off will take place at the Noel Leeming Built-In Cooking Centre on Cameron Rd using the latest induction technology and equipment.
Bay locals who come and view the chefs in action will get to sample their food, vote for their favourite chef as well as go in the draw to win hundreds of dollars worth of Noel Leeming prizes.
Each contestant will have to create a winning dish from a mystery box of ingredients.
Johnston hopes whatever is in the box he can make into a stir-fry.
"I can chop up anything into small pieces and chuck it in a pan."
Johnston, 31, has been cooking for 10 years. "Before that it was takeaways and booze."
But he admits his partner, Hayley, does most of it, with his repertoire limited to stir-fries.
"Although, I like to think I am good at the barbecue, especially sausages," he says.
This statement produces mirth in his rival chef Peter Blakeway, "Barbecueing is the most aggressive form of cooking, so I am always amused when the person with the least cooking knowledge takes control of the grill," he says.
While Johnston struggles to work a garlic press, Blakeway can juggle a liquid nitrogen canister, several pans and utensils and is already familiar with induction cooking.
"I never thought I would say this as a chef but I actually prefer it to gas. It just does everything better."
Knowing he is the underdog, Johnston thinks Blakeway should have a handicap.
"Blindfolding him would be good but I wouldn't want him to burn or cut himself."
So instead he may enlist the help of another celebrity chef who will be his "sous-chef".
"It is not cheating as I will do all the cooking, it is just I might get a bit of extra help."
Learning that Blakeway doesn't like bananas, Johnston said he will see what he can do to make sure the yellow fruit is among the ingredients.
Johnston is also relying on the votes of locals who will turn up to watch the challenge.
"Then we could be looking at a tortoise and a hare situation - hopefully not on the plates though."
Who will win 'Noel Leeming's The Spatula'? The contenders:
Name: Will Johnston
Age: 31
Cooking skills: Barbecues and stir-fries. "I like to do the barbecue stuff, and I have got better over the years. My sausages used to come out like a rock but now I have got that down to an art. Although people might be drunk when they eat them."
Signature dish: Stir-fry. Chocolate self-saucing pudding
Favourite cooking implement: Wooden spoon
Secret weapon: "Everyone likes an underdog. I am hoping that my listeners and readers will want to come and see me make a goose of myself but vote for me anyway. And I might enlist a local sous-chef."
What do you think of your opponent? "His food is delicious. I have known him for years and watched him cook. Unfortunately I don't remember how to do it."
Name: Peter Blakeway
Age: 40s
Cooking skills: 25 years' experience. A champion of local Bay produce, he has his own television show Taste From Our Land, a column in the Bay of Plenty Times and is author of Fresh! The Best of New Zealand from Market to Table. He runs live cooking demonstrations and has run cooking schools at various venues in the Bay including Mills Reef Winery and The Good Food Trading Company. He is a consultant chef and has worked with the Bay of Plenty Steamers and the Chiefs.
Signature dish: Taking an old recipe such as apple pie, deconstruct it and make it new using modern techniques such as liquid nitrogen to serve it with ice cream and dry ice.
Favourite cooking implement: "My knives. I like to wield them like a drummer wields his sticks."
Secret weapon: "I like to use wine when I cook and sometimes in the cooking."
What do you think of your opponent? "He makes all the noise, but I have seen no evidence. He could be a secret Gordon Ramsay - he certainly talks like him sometimes."
Join the fun
What: Noel Leeming's
The Spatula Challenge
When: First event is
Sunday, July 26, kicking off
at midday. The second and
final event will be on
Saturday August 1 at
midday.
Where: The Noel
Leeming Built-In Cooking
Centre - 266 Cameron Rd,
Tauranga
Local radio host Will Johnston from The Hits Bay of Plenty is taking on local celebrity chef Peter Blakeway in the ultimate cook-off. Hosted from The Noel Leeming Built-In
Cooking Centre using the latest induction technology and equipment.
Come on the day to watch all the action, then, at the end, sample the food and place your vote on who you think should win the title of "Noel Leeming's The Spatula".
Everyone who votes is in the draw to win great prizes from Noel Leeming.
Listen to Will's show on The Hits Bay of Plenty 95FM, 9am to 3pm weekdays, text through, to 4487 any tips, tricks or speciality recipes you think could help him in "Noel
Leeming's The Spatula Challenge" and you could win more great prizes thanks to Noel Leeming.