'Useless cook' wins Rural Catch culinary skills round

A self-described "useless cook" proved a dab hand with asparagus rolls as he and his cooking teammate won the culinary skills round of the Rural Catch competition at the Fieldays.

Ohaupo farmer Ben Fisher and Eira Lloyd-Forrest prepared a feast of asparagus rolls, meat wraps and salmon crackers. For dessert they made a grand farming-inspired birthday cake.

The eight contestants partnered up and created savoury and sweet dishes celebrating 50 years of Fieldays for round eight of the competition.

Brett McGregor, a Masterchef winner, hosted the challenge and said this year it was a lot more fired up with the women onboard.

"It's getting really competitive this year with the girls — they've all really raised the bar," said McGregor.

Before the challenge got under way, Fisher and Lloyd-Forrest looked over the food selection with some trepidation.

"I'm a bit worried about the cooking challenge.

"I'm really not a good cook. I better not tell the ladies that," said Fisher.

Despite winning, they did face a few bumps along the way. Lloyd-Forrest had some frosting drama.

At first the frosting was too stiff, but after heating it up the frosting became too runny and sent her cake on a slope. It became the leaning tower of cake.

To her surprise, McGregor said it actually worked in her favour after he tasted the cake.
He said it had made the cake perfectly moist.

Taking the win was a massive shock to them both, especially Fisher who jumped for joy.
"I'm in absolute shock — cooking is not my thing at all," he said.