Maketu MasterChef sisters share their kitchen secrets

Karena and Kasey Bird, the MasterChef sisters who have launched a new cookbook. Photo/John Borren.

Well-known winners of TV series MasterChef Kasey and Karena have launched their first cookbook. They chat to Annemarie Quill about family, their passion for cooking and what their dream restaurant would be.

MAKETU MASTERCHEF duo Karena and Kasey Bird launched their cookbook last night with a celebration party at Paengaroa Community Hall and tonight Puke Kiwicoast Lions and PaperPlus have set the stage for a cooking demonstration in The Orchard church auditorium, where the sisters will donate ticket sales to the local family of James Reid, the five-year-old from Papamoa who has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy.

The Reid family is raising $150,000 for life-changing treatment in the United States.

James is the son of Don and Sonja, and the grandson of Buck and Pam Reid, from Maketu.

It is a typical local gesture from the Maketu sisters, who despite becoming nationally recognisable after winning the television cooking show MasterChef last year, have both remained grounded.

Kasey, 24 and Karena, 26, still live in Maketu, Kasey told indulge.

"We used to live next door to each other up until two weeks ago. Karena has now moved to another house in Maketu, about 300m away, so we are still pretty close."

They attended Te Puke High School, where Karena was head girl, and both have been with their partners for a long time - Karena nine years and Kasey seven years - who are both "awesome and supportive but this is one part of our life we like to keep quite private", says Kasey.

Our cooking is inspired by where we come from and also the people we love. Food to us is all about feeding those you love and this is something we think about when we create new dishes.

Kasey Bird

Despite having no formal chef training, the pair smashed the MasterChef competition using a very home-grown approach to food and cooking which they continue today.

"We have had no formal chef/food training. We are home cooks and learnt everything from various family members, watching cooking programmes on TV and dining out."

Their cooking is inspired by fresh ingredients found in their local Bay of Plenty region.

Masterchef winners Karena and Kasey launch their cookbook in Te Puke. From left, MC and Te Puke Paper Plus owner Stuart Gunn tries some of the food cooked by Karena and Kasey Bird. Photo/Andrew Warner

The pair say they used everyday ingredients but would describe their cooking style as "vibrant" and very much rooted in their close family.

"Our cooking is inspired by where we come from and also the people we love. Food to us is all about feeding those you love and this is something we think about when we create new dishes."

The sisters have even self-published their first book, which no other MasterChef winner has done.

"It is new territory and it has been a huge learning curve for us. There has been many challenges in creating the book ourselves but seeing the final result has definitely made it feel like it has all been worth it."

So what can we expect in their first book?

"Delicious and impressive recipes made with everyday ingredients. Our book highlights New Zealand's unique culture and has beautiful scenic shots of our small but special hometown of Maketu.

"We have put so much work into this book and we are so proud of the results and we hope everyone loves it just as much as we do."

From today, the sisters will be off on a month-long tour across the country to promote their book, as well as a couple of overseas trips.

"We will be getting into some kitchens to do some work experience and really get hands on and improve our overall knowledge and skills.

Karena and Kasey Bird. Photo/John Borren.

Upskilling and learning is very important to us so that will be our focus for the second half of the year."

When they do get spare time Karena enjoys going to the gym, and says she loves fashion and shopping.

"My other hobbies are DIY, whether it be furniture, floral arrangements or house renovations, I love being creative and making things."

Kasey loves cooking for friends or a quiet night in watching movies.

"I also love swimming and try to get in the water whenever I get a chance."

They say they both love taking it easy when they can.

"When we are back in the Bay it is definitely the place we like to relax and have some time out with our friends and family"

They also like dining out - Karena's favourite spot is the yum cha restaurant on Devonport Rd and spending time in the Mount, whereas Kasey likes a casual meal and margaritas at Barrio Brothers.

In the future, it could be their own restaurant that they head to. In the longer term, the pair would love to open a restaurant in the Bay - and Maketu would be their dream location.

"I think we would love to do that one day, when we are ready to settle down, so a while away still, say the girls.

"The food served would be simple and seasonal food specialising in seafood. We would love to have our own garden and fishing charter at the restaurant so everything is really fresh and served close from the source."

Indulge has one signed copy of the book to giveaway. To enter go to our indulge Facebook page facebook.com/indulgemag and like the page and the post