Rising culinary stars will go on to represent Australasia at the World Tapas Competition in Spain later in the year.
The kitchen was sizzling with creativity at the annual Tapas Competition, held earlier this week at Skills Ignite in Wiri, Auckland, where some of Australasia’s top culinary talent battled it out for the chance to represent the region on the world stage.
Jessabel Canarias Granada from Nanam restaurant in Auckland has been crowned this year’s Tapas Champion, securing an all-expenses-paid trip to the prestigious World Tapas Competition in Valladolid, Spain, on 10 November 2025. Her winning dish called ‘Storyteller’ was a Wagyu beef sausage in tacos, chipotle mayonnaise, coriander, peanut BBQ sauce and light pickles. It wowed the judges due to its exceptional taste, presentation, and creative flair.
“I’m incredibly proud and excited to represent Australasia in Spain,” said Canarias Granada.
“This competition has been an amazing opportunity to push my creativity and compete alongside so many talented chefs.”
Melbourne-based chef Andrea Vignali (Al Dente Enoteca) was hot on her heels, taking out second place, and with it, the honour of representing Australia at the World competition. This is only the second time in history that two chefs from Australasia have been selected to compete in Valladolid, testament to the calibre of their show-stopping dishes. Deepak Anand (Fika With Me, Auckland) and Renz Condino (Roki, Queenstown) placed third equal in the competition.
The high-energy event attracted 35 competitors from across New Zealand and Australia, including student chefs and industry professionals. Each entrant was challenged to design, cook, and present a unique tapas dish in eight portions, with a budget guideline of no more than NZD 4 per serving.
Judged by an esteemed panel led by Certified Master Chef Mark Erickson, Provost at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA), entries were scored on taste, technique, presentation, and innovation. The panel of culinary experts included:
- Mark Erickson, Certified Master Chef and Provost at the Culinary Institute of America (Head Judge)
- Michael Meredith, Chef and Owner, Mr Morris
- Brent Martin, Executive Chef, Park Hyatt
- Patrick Ikinofo, Executive Chef, SkyCity
- Nancy Pirini, Executive Chef, Novotel
- Zennon Christian, Head Chef, Paris Butter
- Kimberley Dixon, Chief Editor, Hospitality Business
- Chandni Sahrawat, Restaurateur, Sid
Jasbir Kaur, Head of Global Education Partnership and Business Development at Skills Ignite, said the competition continues to lift the profile of Australasian chefs on the global stage.
“We created this competition to give our local chefs a world-class platform, and it’s inspiring to see the level of creativity on display,” she said.
“Our winner will now carry the spirit and skill of our region to Spain, and we’re excited to follow their journey. They’ll also be competing for top honours at the World Tapas Competition, where first prize is EUR 10,000, with EUR 5,000 and EUR 3,000 awarded for second and third place respectively.”
The Auckland event was livestreamed via the Skills Ignite Facebook page, where food lovers across the country were able to tune in to watch the action unfold.
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