Eight-year-old Thomas Booth cooked up a storm at the Kids Can Cook competition on Saturday at Majestic Square in Whanganui.
His spaghetti bolognaise and chicken curry stir-fry earned him a spot on the national stage.
He was joined by 12-year-old Mikayla Slaughter who took out first place in the second heat with her to die for corn fritter stack and chocolate pudding.
Hosted by NZ Chefs, the competition was all about supporting kids with a passion for cooking and giving them a step up into the industry from a young age. It was also a chance to find the hottest junior chef for 2017.
Thomas, from Churton Park School, and Mikayla, from Whanganui Intermediate School, will join the other regional winners in Auckland for the national competition on July 30.