Hastings to turn on the heat at Bare Knuckle BBQ's Chilli Cook Off

Bare Knuckle BBQ owner Jimmy Macken with David Holt, of Tauranga, the last man standing at the 2017 Hot Chilli Eating Contest. Photo/File

This week's cooler temperatures will be no match for entrants in Bare Knuckle BBQ's Chilli Cook Off tomorrow.

The second annual competition will have 12 contestants cook their best chilli at the Riverslea Rd, Hastings, eatery tomorrow afternoon.

There will also be the regional Hot Chilli Eating Contest with the winner qualifying for the 2018 NZ Chilli Eating Champs in Auckland in May.

Owner Jimmy Macken said the contestants for the cook-off will be making their best chilli which will be judged by anyone wanting to come along and taste their meals.

Some of the contestants took part last year and others are newbies with the winner taking home the Chilli Cook Off cup.

"It was great fun last year, everyone loved it.

"Everyone got to eat good chilli by some pretty accomplished home cooks, and some chefs too."

There will be about a dozen different chillies for the entrants to eat ranging from a mild 30,000 scoville heat units to an extremely hot 2 million, he said.

Anyone can come along to watch either competition but only 20 entrants will be accepted into the eating contest.

The winner will take their skills to the 2018 NZ Chilli Eating Champs being held at the NZ Hot Sauce Festival 2018 at Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen, Freemans Bay, Auckland from May 26-27.

There will be more than 100 hot sauces from around the country at the festival.

The nationals, in their 8th year, will feature the world's hottest chilli, the Carolina Reaper.

Judging for this today's Chilli Cook Off will be between 2pm and 5pm and the Hot Chilli Eating Contest will be at 3pm.

Instead of the normal menu Bare Knuckle BBQ will have an express menu and will be open from 11am.

Bare Knuckle BBQ offers authentic wood smoked Southern style BBQ food in a relaxed garden setting with yard games, local craft beers and wines at 1091 Riverslea Rd, Hastings.

Visit www.bareknucklebbq.co.nz for more information.