Celebs to put their best dish forward

Move over Gordon Ramsay, Queenstown Mayor Clive Geddes is about to cook up a storm today when he and five other celebrities demonstrate their culinary skills for International Day of the Chef.

Mr Geddes and four other local celebrities will share the culinary limelight with world No 2 triathlete and double Olympic medallist Bevan Docherty.

The intrepid six will be paired with six local chefs in the lunchtime competition.

With a bit of prompting, Mr Geddes said these days he left the cooking to his wife "because she's a hell of a good cook".

But before he had the benefit of his wife's cuisine, Mr Geddes cooked for himself, mostly using a wok.

"It's convenient and generally healthy food. You eat lots of vegetables and it's quick.

"I used to come home and fire up the gas wok and add chicken and spices and have a meal in 10-20 minutes.

"I like all those fresh Asian flavours and spices."But his favourite meals were old-fashioned Kiwi favourites such as Sunday roast and sausages with mashed potatoes or swedes, he said.

"Food that's not complicated."Waitiri Creek chef Jason Moss is organising today's cook-off and is also taking part.

He said the event was planned as a fun competition, similar to the TV show Ready, Steady, Cook.

"It's free and a bit of fun over the lunchtime for everyone."Docherty will also speak at Queenstown's Prime Restaurant tonight, telling the inside story on being a double Olympic medallist; what it takes, how it feels and what it is really like racing among the world's best.

Celebrity Chef cook-off will take place downstairs in the O'Connells building from 11.30am until 1.30pm today.

Entry is free.