It was just for a bit of a laugh when a Dunedin man roped in his mate to apply for a spot on a reality TV cooking show.
Travis Thomson (28) and his friend, former Otago rugby player Jeremy Aldworth (38), ''chucked in'' an application to My Kitchen Rules (MKR), thinking they would never hear back.
But less than 24 hours later, Mr Thomson got a call, and they were in.
Keen cook and food lover Mr Thomson made long-time friend and fellow food enthusiast Mr Aldworth his partner for the show ''against his will'', thinking it could be a fun challenge.
The lads met on a rugby field 11 years ago, playing for the University of Otago club, and their mutual appreciation of having a good feed and a good laugh cemented their friendship.
Though the pair have been dubbed the 'jokers' of the show, they are serious in the kitchen.
''There comes a point where you go from enjoying the two-minute noodles in student life to having a better palate for food that's actually nice,'' Mr Thomson said.
Their specialty is ''good old'' meat and three veges, with a modern twist, Mr Thomson said.
''It's nothing flash or fancy but it's hearty and filling,'' Mr Aldworth said.
Outside the kitchen, they worked in the mines in Western Australia but Mr Thomson has recently returned to manage his family farm near Dunedin, while Mr Aldworth has gone back to Otago University to study geology.
The second season of MKR pits region against region and the friends were proud to represent Otago.
''Plus it gives us a chance to stick it to Canterbury and Auckland,'' Mr Thomson said.
Their instant restaurant, filmed at Mr Thomson's family farm, airs on Monday, October 26, and was a ''very fun, but draining night'', he said.
And if they win the $10,000 prize money?
''A trip to Euro Disneyland,'' they agreed.
- Allison Hess
