Cooks compete at Kai in the Bay boil up

The argument over which marae in the land has the best boil-up, Maori bread or steam pudding could be settled when three culinary teams sharpen their knives for a cook-off challenge. It's one of the feature events at the Kai In The Bay Festival in Ahuriri tomorrow.

Marae pride and hospitality will be on the line when Kohupatiki marae in Clive, Omahu marae in Fernhill and Pukemokimoki marae in Maraenui each send a team of seven ringawera, or kitchen hands, to prepare a three-course meal for eight kaumatua and two celebrities.

At about 8am at the festival's Perfume Point venue they will receive their instructions which will include a budget to buy food for their dishes.

Teams will have about five hours to shop for ingredients and return to their kitchens at Perfume Point. They will serve their completed three-course meals to their guests and judges in the early afternoon.

In keeping with the correct tikanga, or customs, the teams will also be marked on manaakitanga, or the hospitality they show their guests. That could include delivering a waiata to entertain the diners while the food is presented, just as they would on a marae.

Justin Taukamo, who is one of the ringawera for Pukemokimoki marae, said it was the manaakitanga component of the challenge which was one of the most important for him.

"Manaakitanga, this is something that as a cook on a marae you grow into," he said. "It is the way we cook and look after the people that are coming on as our visitors. We are a young team of ringawera who have been cooking at Pukemokimoki since its opening [in 2006]. We have looked at two possible menus for the challenge but until the day when we receive our budget, we won't know which one to go with."

Rose White, from Hastings, is a ringawera for the Kohupatiki marae team. She has cooked at Kohupatiki for over 36 years and is well known in the kitchens of many other Hawke's Bay marae.

"When you go to a restaurant you book ahead so the chef knows how many people to cook for," Mrs White said. "But, at a marae, whether it be tangi, birthdays or weddings, you really never know how many people are going to turn up. And as a cook on a marae you have to be ready for that challenge.

"I'd like to prepare something traditional on Saturday and, depending on our budget, I'd also like to do something a bit more upbeat. I've been told we'll have fresh mussels, paua and kina, which is a normal part of marae food.

"I'd like to take my own watercress and puha but we're not allowed to. We have to get everything from the supermarket."

Nan Nuku is from Fernhill and lives next door to Omahu marae, where she has cooked "heaps of meals" for 53 years.

She will be a valuable component of the Omahu team at the challenge tomorrow.

"For the favourite marae meal, you can't go past a boil-up," she said. "You can use meat, pork bones, doughboys, puha and watercress. Then you've got fried bread and Maori bread, which is another marae favourite.

"We have a few [meals] in mind to prepare, but it's going to be a secret until the day. Our main focus is to cook something tasty and interesting for the kaumatua and celebrities to enjoy. We're very excited and bubbling about the chance to be involved." Mihiroa Marae had withdrawn from the challenge at the time of publication.

Kai In The Bay

He Pataka Hauora Trust is hosting the event which will be held at Perfume Point in Ahuriri tomorrow.

The festival powhiri is at 9.15am and the event begins officially at 10am.

There will be art and music as well as an array of food stalls showcasing traditional Maori kai as well as European wild food.

Four celebrity cook-off competitions will feature MPs Stuart Nash and Parekura Horomia, Richard Highman from The Old Church, Clinton Toonmer from European Gourmet and rugby league great Kevin Tamati.

Cooking demonstration by Paolo Pancotti from Pizza Pazzi in Napier and Pete Peeti from Maori Television's Kai Time.

Marae cook-off challenge between teams from Omahu, Kohupatiki and Pukemokimoki.

Healthy cooking competitions will be held with chef Damian Peeti, from Workforce Development.

The underlying theme is healthy lifestyle choices, the event is alcohol and tobacco-free and supports awareness of diabetes. By Lawrence Gullerynews@hbtoday.co.nz