Tasmanian friends Esther and Ali have not only joined forces in the kitchen but they’re also partners in the fight against crime.

The Hobart girls met while they were both at the Tasmanian Police Academy. After graduating in 2004, Esther now works as a uniformed officer while Ali is a detective for the Crime Investigation Bureau.

As well as a mutual love of sport and keeping fit – they work out together at the gym and play mixed netball each week – they also share a passion for food. “We love cooking for other people,” Ali, 26, says. “When you have friends around with a glass of wine, it’s very social. It’s a form of relaxation and very different to our working lives.”

Esther, 26, adds: “Cooking is what makes the world go around in my eyes. It relaxes me after a long day and it brings friends and family together.”

Growing up with an Italian father, Esther was brought up surrounded by amazing food and lots of it. “Every night in an Italian home is like Christmas,” she says. “There is food everywhere and it tastes incredible.”

A born sweet tooth, Ali mainly concentrated on desserts before meeting Esther. Raised on a farm on the north-west coast of Tasmania, she was brought up on a very basic menu of meat and three veg. “Mum was fantastic with desserts – pavlovas, sponge cakes, scones. But since meeting Esther that I’ve tried other food. I always cooked sweets and desserts but when our friendship formed I opened myself to trying other things.”

The girls’ cooking style is predominantly Italian with a modern twist. “My favourite dish to cook is my tomato sugo pasta dish,” Esther says. “I serve it with my famous meatballs. It took me months to perfect to be just like my nonna’s. Tossed through fresh pasta, it is unbelievable and people always come back for more.”

Ali meanwhile rates her decadent chocolate mousse torte. “It’s very rich.” As well as being a police officer, Esther also works part-time as waitress in a fine dining restaurant and at a vineyard to learn more about food. “I love being in the kitchen and seeing the chef’s plating up,” she says. “I’m always in the kitchen watching so I don’t know how good a waitress I am! My pet hate is waitresses who know nothing about what they’re serving.”

The bubbly duo definitely see a career in food in their future. “I’d like to, at some stage, open a café,” Esther says.

They’re thrilled to be representing Tasmania. “We have such amazing produce we can’t wait to show off,” Esther says. Ali adds: “We’re very excited. Tasmania really gets behind its local teams. They’ll just love it.”