A whopping 39 Hawke’s Bay restaurants and cafés will compete at this year’s Regional Signature Dish Competition being held from September 10th to October 19th.

Food Hawke’s Bay’s Jane Libby said the numbers were astounding and a “real thrill to see in a tough economic climate”. For the first time a café category has been added to incorporate as much of  Hawke’s Bay’s culinary expertise as possible.

Diners will be able to vote in the People’s Choice Awards in each of the three categories – formal, casual and café. A line-up of mystery judges will be kept a close secret in order to maintain the utmost transparency and fairness for eateries.

All entrants have submitted their dish of choice for the competition with competitors’ details and menu descriptions featuring on the Food Hawke’s Bay website. Mrs Libby said this year’s dishes combined the best of Hawke’s Bay produce with the flair of local chefs.

She said diners should look out for delicacies such as poached duck eggs, damsons, piko piko, white balsamic, quark, truffle oil, rabbit, plenty of seafood and lamb. “We’re seeing innovation and creativity shining through in the entries with a range of first class culinary techniques - this year’s competition is shaping up to be nothing short of “red hot,” Mrs Libby said.

PICTURED: WINNER OF LAST YEAR’S “FORMAL” CATEGORY, TERRY LOWE FROM BLACK BARN BISTRO, HAVELOCK NORTH.