Spy: The real MKR kitchen war

My Kitchen Rules judges Ben Bayly and Gareth Stewart. Photo / Supplied

They are close mates and make a great pairing as TV judges on series two of My Kitchen Rules New Zealand.

But away from the cameras, Gareth Stewart and Ben Bayly are competing for dining supremacy in Auckland.

Bayly is chef supreme at The Grove and Baduzzi but his high-profile eateries are in for some stiff competition from three new Nourish Group venues on Princes Wharf, which will be overseen by Stewart as executive chef.

The large waterfront site previously home to Euro is being transformed into three, with a new-look Euro set to open next week, along with Coley & Punch and The Culpeper.

Stewart told Spy: "Diners can expect fresh, exciting flavours with a focus on the very best seafood and other locally sourced ingredients, It has been a hectic year with MKR, wrapping my head around all the Nourish Group restaurants and getting two new ones up and running. But it has all been a great experience and now my focus is very much on these new ventures."