Radio host Will Johnston took out the first round of the inaugural Noel Leeming's Spatula Challenge yesterday, despite being pitted against professional Bay chef Peter Blakeway.
The Hits Bay of Plenty daytime host received 46 public votes, while Blakeway scored 39 in a David and Goliath style cook-off at Noel Leeming's Built-In kitchen at Cameron Rd.
"You're all mad," Johnston told the crowd on receiving his spatula cup.
Blakeway took the loss in good spirits.
"Will wins in the professional mouth stakes rather than the taste stakes. Was it something to do with he promised people who voted for him bars of Whittaker's Jelly Tip chocolate?"
Blakeway pointed out it wasn't over yet.
"We are back here again next Saturday. This was just a warm-up. Next week it is game on."
More than 100 people cheered on the chefs, who had each received a box of mystery ingredients assembled by local food store Nosh MountMaunganui.
The unevenness of the battle was apparent when the clock started: Blakeway began to expertly debone a fresh chicken, while Johnston struggled to open a pack of pork mince.
Johnston's dish of pork meatballs and fennel, with zucchini noodles (zoodles) made in his own 'spiraliser', won over the crowd.
"I went for the 'everyman' style, something you can go home and whip up on a weeknight whereas he [Blakeway] is all fancy."
Blakeway's cooked chicken boudin - stuffed chicken breast, and truffled white bean puree and chlorophyll greens - which he said was a buzz ingredient in cooking "supergreens", to which Johnston joked, "He means chloroform. We are all going to die."
Rosedale couple Anna-Marie Crott, 50s, and Robin King, 50s, had been in the store looking for a dishwasher when they were attracted to the cook-off.
"We will both vote for Peter. I've been watching him. It smells delicious," said Mr King, who said he was inspired to try Blakeway's chicken dish that night, which caused an eye-roll from his wife who said she did most of the cooking.
What the pair did agree on was the "delicious" dessert concocted by the two chefs of fried banana and dry ice ice-cream using local ingredients Heilala Vanilla, Solomons Gold chocolate and gold kiwifruit.
"I love that they use local produce," said Monica Tresch, 47, who was in the Bay visiting relatives and stopped by.
"I just love cooking and I was keen to find out more about the induction system they are using here," she said.
Blakeway said that induction technology is the way chefs are going both personally and commercially.
"It's safe, fast and just gives you so many options with cooking."
Ms Tresch won one of the spot prizes, a cookbook by Peter Blakeway, for her question on truffle oils.
Gate Pa's Ivan Sullivan, 48, won a $500 voucher from Noel Leeming.
"The wife will decide how we spend it, even though I do a bit of cooking myself."
Philip Anderson, regional manager at Noel Leeming Group, said it was the first cook-off the store had held in its built-in kitchen, and said it was a great way to engage the community as well as showcase the innovative cooking technology the store offered.
"Cooking is so much about entertainment these days, so we want to bring people into the store and involve them. It's a great turnout and it's awesome entertainment."
Mr Anderson said the company had several built-in kitchens in stores across New Zealand, with another opening shortly in Rotorua.
He said it was hard to choose a winner.
"If it was about talking it would go to the radio guy, but for eating, I'd go with the chef."
The chefs would be going head-to-head again next Saturday at midday at Noel Leeming when the final winner would be announced.
Johnston said he hoped to pull in the crowds again.
"I heard a rumour John Key is in town to open the Eastern Link, so I might invite him along."
Noel Leeming's Spatula Challenge
What: Noel Leeming's The Spatula Challenge
When: First event was Sunday, July 26. The second and final event will be on Saturday, August 1 at midday.
Where: The Noel Leeming Built-In Cooking Centre - 266 Cameron Rd, Tauranga
Local radio host Will Johnston from The Hits Bay of Plenty takes on local celebrity chef Peter Blakeway in the ultimate cook-off.
Will Johnston's mystery ingredients included pork mince, udon noodles, cashews, canned
tomatoes, basil and coriander
Peter Blakeway's box of mystery ingredients included a whole chicken, white beans, truffle oil, white wine and pickled walnuts
Prizes included a Phillips pasta and noodle maker worth $499, a $500 Noel Leeming voucher and a $100 Noel Leeming voucher to the most supportive person in the audience.
