On the sports fields it's a case of "come on the bay!" - but in the kitchen and display halls of the ASB Exhibition Centre in Auckland for three days from Sunday it will be "cook on the bay!"
Part of the Hawke's Bay contingent of cafe, restaurant and hospitality industry
folk heading for the annual New Zealand Culinary Fare are tomorrow's potential cheffing stars - 16 students from seven high schools across the region.
Team Hawke's Bay, led by Craig Ireland from Hospitality Training Solutions, will take part in the college challenge section.
It is the third year a Hawke's Bay student team has taken part in the competitions and Mr Ireland said the line-up was again a good one.
"We've always come away with medals," Mr Ireland said confidently.
The students taking part are from Napier Boys' High School, St John's College, Hastings Girls' High School, Sacred Heart College, Flaxmere High School, Havelock North High School and Karamu High School.
The students will take part in 26 competitions including creating a healthy brunch and cafe-style sandwich, a full main course and a Devonshire tea.
Competitions get under way on Sunday with a 7am start and will keep the students on their creative toes until 5pm. Mr Ireland said the students would get a solid appreciation of what preparation is all about.
When told the days began at 7am the response had been "that's pretty early".
When told they would be getting up at 4.30am to get prepared, the reaction was "say what?"
