Reality star Reuben!

The news is out… I can finally say I’m a reality TV star. No, not Love Island, but nearly as good. 😆

The producers of Cooks on Fire needed an emergency replacement team for Season 2 and gave me a call. I knew exactly who to ring, my good friend Victoria, the powerhouse behind VEVO Eatery in Titirangi. Lucky for me, she was instantly in!

For those who don’t know Victoria, she’s a fully qualified chef who cut her teeth in high-end, high-pressure kitchens in Auckland and Melbourne from the age of 19. She thrives on the adrenaline and mayhem of restaurant life and she’s been bringing that same passion to VEVO since founding it in 2011. Her café is all about great food, quality coffee (from Mt Atkinson beans) and creating a place where everyone feels at home. If you’ve been, you’ll know it’s a spot filled with laughter, care and a whole lot of flavour, exactly the kind of energy we needed heading into the BBQ arena.

So, what’s the show all about? Cooks on Fire is the ultimate barbecue battle, where seven teams of two go head-to-head over six weeks in a fiery competition to be crowned NZ’s best BBQ team and take home $30,000 in prize money and the Cooks on Fire trophy! Host Ganesh Raj is joined by pitmaster Jared Macdonald and internationally renowned fire expert and meat scientist Jess Pryles, who set the challenges and judge every smoky creation. Each week, teams face two challenges and if you don’t impress, you’re sent packing.

It will be an absolute blast competing alongside Victoria, and we look forward to bringing plenty of heat, flavour and maybe a bit of banter to the BBQ pit. 🔥

Make sure to tune in, it’s going to be one smokin’ season! Want to see how we did? Watch on TVNZ+ or get the spoiler here.