Who’d be a culinary judge?

Nothing unusual about folk gathering for a communal meal, but Saturday’s Culinary Trip Around the World — You be the Judge competition at the Fairburn Kaiaka Hall might well be unique.

“If you haven’t been to one of our famous You be the Judge events, this is how it works,” hall committee chairman Peter Niepel said.

“The hall committee decides on a topic for the event — this time it’s a culinary trip around the world — and you bring a mains dish, which should come from a foreign country, to share.

“Get your creativity going and get outside your comfort zone. Indian curries and bangers and mash count as international, but let’s be honest, they’re not very creative, are they?

“So come up with something exciting — did you know the Kaitaia library has a huge selection of first-class cook books? We all then sit down for dinner and enjoy a huge selection of very good and exotic meals, then everyone chooses the best dish and the winner is declared.

“The dishes are judged on taste and flavours, but also on creativity and effort. Of course the winner receives a prize to show off to his family and friends.”

The evening (5.30pm, free admission) would also feature entertainment and the auctioning of mystery boxes, whose contents will not be revealed until they have been bought.

“You never know what you’re gonna get, so bring some change,” Peter added.

Next on the hall’s agenda will be High Tea on Queen’s Birthday.