Pinch of Ramsay in judge

<i>MasterChef NZ</i> judge Josh Emett was a headline act at Taste of Auckland. Photo / Doug Sherring

Nice guy Josh Emett will take a little bit of 'Gordon Ramsay' with him when he debuts as a fulltime judge in the second series of MasterChef NZ.

The Kiwi chef has been Ramsay's right-hand man for more than a decade and was the first New Zealander to receive a the highest award in cooking, a Michelin star.

While he may not swear as much as his famously volatile boss Emett, 37, is equally tough when it comes to the standards he expects in the kitchen.

"We've got to be tough. We've got to take everything into consideration - to get into the dish and see what they're trying to achieve. I'm firm but fair," he said.

Contestants need to be able to deliver on taste as well as presentation to impress, said Emett.

He was asked to take up the role of third judge after Ross Burden left to focus on a law degree. Emett will work alongside Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie.

The judging role has seen Emett fly between his Melbourne home where he works a "moderate" 80-hour week running Ramsay's Maze Melbourne restaurant and filming MasterChef in New Zealand.

On Thursday he was one of the chefs who opened Taste of Auckland 2010.

Waikato-born Emett, has spent 11 years working for world-renowned Ramsay, whom he described as driven, kind and funny.

"He's a lot of fun. He's a machine. He lives and breathes it and that shows because he's been very successful all over the world."

The pair talk often - usually about food, sometimes about the media, said Emett.

In spite of a difficult year personally for Ramsay, who has faced allegations of a seven-year affair, he is doing well, said Emett.

"He's all good. He's in good form."

For Emett, good cooking is about letting flavours come through.

"It's all about confidence in what you're putting on the plate and what you need to leave off the plate. Less is more."

He has been impressed with the resourceful approach Kiwi chefs have to cooking.

"More and more I see that they know how to look after their produce and because New Zealand is so seasonal they can make use of what they have."

At home, Emett enjoys cooking and eating simple food.