The Nestle Toque d'Or competition pits culinary and restaurant service students from around the country against each other to find emerging culinary and service ''superstars''.
The team from Central Otago - culinary students Freda Zhang and Sam Farr and Kayla Green, a restaurant service student - will go up against 27 others from polytechnics in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, Timaru, Hamilton, Rotorua, as well as the New Zealand Defence Force.
Each of the institutes selects a team comprising three of its top students - two culinary and one restaurant service.
NZChefs national president and organiser of the event, Graham Hawkes, of Invercargill, said the students had signed up for a gruelling training schedule before the big event.
''Many of the students will spend months training for the big day, while also juggling work and study commitments.''
Competitors arrive in Auckland during July to compete against one another in a simulated live kitchen environment.
''Hotly contended, the goal is to create and deliver an award-winning menu to special guests attending the event on competition day,'' Hawkes said.
''Tensions are high and the pressure is on throughout to get it right and avoid any costly mistakes that could lead to lost points. The menus the students create and deliver to guests on the day must be as close to perfect as possible, if they want to be named the winning team.''
Further adding to the pressure is the fact their menus and service must be completed within a set time.
All of this is done under the gaze of onlookers, as well as a panel of top local and international industry judges who mark their every move against a tough World Chef's judging criteria.
''If they want to get it right on the day, it takes nerves of steel and everyone in the team working together as a tight unit.''
All of the teams are given in advance a list of ingredients that they can use to create menus. This year it includes Nestle Professional products, fresh and seasonal New Zealand-grown vegetables, New Zealand lamb and Akaroa salmon.
