The hunt is on for New Zealand's best toasted sandwich as the nationwide Great Toastie Takeover competition kicks off.
Dozens of eateries around the country are getting creative and putting their own spin on the Kiwi classic.
Bready or not here it comes. The Toastie Takeover is here - the competition that scours the country in search of the most mouth-watering toasted sandwich.
The toast-off is returning for its third year with entries from the top of Northland to the bottom of Southland.
Wellington's Fix and Fogg is one of the keen participants. They're known for their extensive range of peanut butters and have used this to create their signature sandwich.
Auckland's Akarana Eatery have also got their creative caps on. Their masterpiece consists of braised beef shin, mozzarella, pickles and homemade gravy sandwiched together by waffle-style bread.
"What will make ours shine is the fact that you've got that waffled aspect and then as you pour the gravy over the top it catches all that beautiful flavour," executive chef Nic Watt says.
Eighty-three eateries across the country have entered into the competition - from upmarket bars and restaurants to tiny hole-in-the-wall outlets.
Great Toastie Takeover organiser Nick Brown says the winning entry will be one that nails the basics and then adds its own spin.
"You've got great bread toasted whichever way, beautiful molten cheese in there, the pickles cutting the richness of that and then bring it on anything else you want to add in there," he says.
The competition is around for the next week so Kiwis everywhere can hunt down and enjoy every last bite and crumb of a new and improved household staple.
