No cooking up a storm

Marcus Gower loves cooking but is not allowed in the kitchen with anybody else, especially his wife Alice.

Mr Gower's passion for food is so great that it led to tension and even yelling in his Kihikihi home.

"So if she is in the kitchen I am not allowed in there and if I am in there she is not allowed in."

Mr Gower is one of many foodies hoping judges have chosen him as one of the 12 Vetro Home Cooks semifinalists.

The judges were last night considering entrants' written explanations – in fewer than 200 words – of why they should make the cut to vie for the title of Waikato best home cook.

Mr Gower's entry highlighted his love of food, cooking and entertaining.

"I was going to become a chef until I realised the sorts of hours and so joined the IT industry," he said.

If selected, he plans to concoct a tomato soup.

"It is a real simple dish which tastes great and my garden is full of ripe tomatoes at the moment. Also, there's nothing better than sitting outside in summer with friends, sharing tomato soup."

The competition is part of the Waikato Times Food, Wine and Jazz festival. Semifinalists will design an original dish using mystery ingredients from Vetro Mediterranean Foods, in Hamilton, and prepare it at the Wintec Cooking School in front of industry judges.

The finale is a cook-off by the best three before an audience in Kitchen Things Cooking Theatre at the Food Wine & Jazz Festival, at the Hamilton Gardens, on Saturday and Sunday, February 27 and 28.

- © Fairfax NZ News