You don't need to be a Michelin star chef to come up with a winning dish to represent the flavours of our region.
As part of the sixth annual Hawke's Bay Signature Dish event, people are invited to put their culinary skills to the test with the Best in Dish Farmers' Market Challenge.
But it's not as simple as it may sound. Every entry needs to incorporate at least five local ingredients, all of which must be purchased from the Farmers' Market.
"It's just a bit of fun for people to have an attempt at putting together a dish using those five ingredients, which is the same criterion that participating [Signature Dish] chefs have to follow," said Vicky Rope from Food Hawke's Bay.
Entrants will need to create the dish, then send a copy of the recipe, along with a list of all Hawke's Bay ingredients used and a photo of the finished product, to Food Hawke's Bay.
From there three finalists will be selected to attend the Farmers' Market on Sunday, September 30, to re-create their dishes for a panel of celebrity judges. "They will need to buy their ingredients and create their dish as best they can on barbecues. Of course it may not be exactly the same as if they were in their own kitchen but as close as they can get to it."
The overall winner will be given dining vouchers to eat out at five of the restaurants and cafes participating in Signature Dish, to sample their creations.
One of those dining experiences will be with food writer Belinda Henley.
Hawke's Bay Farmers Market chair Joanie Williams from Origin Earth said they were keen to get in behind the new event.
"We are very excited at this new public component to the already successful Signature Dish. It gives our customers the opportunity to really focus on using Hawke's Bay produce and have a bit of fun creating a Signature Dish of their own.
"Having the final challenge at the market will create a real buzz and we look forward to seeing, and tasting, the results."
Entries open on September 7, the same day as the restaurant competition starts, and close on September 21.
Said Mrs Rope: "Signature Dish runs from September 7 to October 16 and we have got 37 restaurants and cafes participating which is just great, especially in these trying times."
Application forms and terms and conditions can be found on the Food Hawke's Bay website www.foodhawkesbay.co.nz.
Entries can be mailed to Food Hawke's Bay, Private Bag 1201, Taradale.