And it has some novel additions including high tech cameras for relaying the chef's works to crowds and a few adaptations borrowed from boats.

The mobile kitchen has been built in Blenheim by engineer Keith Toms and will be heading off on a circuit of New Zealand farmers' markets as part of the Real New Zealand festival during the Rugby World Cup.

The kitchen is a self sufficient unit, with its own power, gas cooker and two separate stainless steel benches to go alongside the main cooking bench. It is a high tech unit with video cameras projecting the chefs work onto LCD television screens so people can keep a close eye on the cooking and a video diary being posted online after each stop to make the demonstrations accessible all over the world.

Keith said working with the limited space was the biggest challenge presented in building the unit, and he consulted some boat builders for ideas, borrowing suggestions like fold away taps for the sink.

After its tour of the nation the kitchen will be coming back to Marlborough to be used by schools and community groups Keith said.

Farmers' Market New Zealand chairman Chris Fortune said the self contained kitchen, would have its first outing at the Marlborough Farmers Market on September 4 before getting on the road.

It will visit 18 markets in two months from Dunedin to the Bay of Islands promoting each region's top chefs and produce and will be cooked on by more than 20 well-known New Zealand chefs.

The chefs will include 2010 MasterChef New Zealand reality television show winner Brett McGregor, also multi-award winning Canterbury chef and restaurant owner Jonny Schwass.

"It's all about getting local chefs using regional products, celebrating what's regional and local to New Zealand. [The chefs] will be using what's available on the day, it's not pre-prepared so it should be fun," Chris said.

Project manager Kylie March said it would not just be the chefs showing off their work as the kitchen aims to encourage people to shop seasonally and straight from the source.

"The producers themselves will be talking about their produce and where it's come from and it's all available for people to purchase, take away and cook to keep it fresh in their minds."