Two truck drivers' wives from Bay View hope their passion for food will translate on the small screen.
Julie Gale-Harrison and Paula Nicol went through a lengthy audition in Hastings yesterday with the aim of landing a spot on My Kitchen Rules upcoming "battle of the regions" series.
"I love food and everything about it, I'm an avid MKR watcher and Paula is exactly the same, we thought 'why not grab life by the horns and see what we come up with?'" Ms Gale-Harrison said.
"I got up this morning and I said 'it will be alright'.
"Before you know it I was applying."
Both women have husbands who work as truck drivers and liked to challenge themselves in the kitchen.
Ms Gale-Harrison's strength was definitely dessert - her palette honed by eating out, something that challenged her to try new and adventurous things at home.
"I like new flavours, it's awesome putting different things together, the other day I had sticky date pudding but instead of vanilla ice cream [the restaurant] had paired it with ginger and lemongrass, it was amazing and exciting."
She hoped their application, including the draft of a three-course meal and short video interview would be enough to get them noticed.
The MKR crew along with sister duo Megan Dobson and Kelly du Toit, who featured last year, were at Hawke's Bay Farmers Market in Hastings yesterday from 8am to 1pm, scouting new talent.
Prize for the winning region is $100,000 and bragging rights.
Already the Bay has had success on the show with Dobson and du Toit appearing last season alongside Dan Freeman, who entered with Auckland flatmate Sam Sutherland, but was born and bred here.
- Those who didn't make it to the showgrounds can apply online, before March 15, at tvnz.co.nz/mkr-apply.