The Australasia Tapas Competition is back for 2024, injecting some Spanish swagger into Auckland.
Kicking off at Ignite Skills cookery school in Manukau on August 27, the highly anticipated event will see talented chefs from both sides of the Tasman battle it out for the grand title of Australasia’s Tapas Champion - and the chance to represent the region at the World Tapas Competition in Valladolid, Spain.
Competitors in the high-pressure cook-off will have just 25 minutes to create eight portions of innovative tapas, shining the spotlight on local ingredients to dish up traditional tapas with an Antipodean twist. Dishes will be evaluated on flavour, presentation, originality and business potential by a panel of top foodies, including celebrity chefs Peter Gordon, Sid Sahrawat and Simon Gault.
Now in its sixth year, the Australasia Tapas Competition has gone from strength to strength, becoming a calendar highlight for culinarians, and pushing the boundaries of what many consider to be traditional tapas. Last year, for example, Cordis Hotel chef de partie, Eda Tunc, took out top spot with her ‘Baklava for All’, an unorthodox fusion of Turkish baklava and Stewart Island King salmon mouse.
“Every year the dishes get more innovative, and the competition steps up a notch,” said organiser and Head of Global Education Partnership and Business Development at Skills Group, Chef Jasbir Kaur.
Chef Kaur first brought the competition to New Zealand in 2018, after making her mark at Michelin-starred Disfrutar in Barcelona and successfully competing at the 2017 World Tapas Competition in Valladolid.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime for chefs who are hungry to showcase their skills on the global stage. Not only that, but it is a powerful way to shine the spotlight on New Zealand’s incredible produce, and cement our place on the culinary world map.”
More than 30 chefs from Australia and New Zealand are expected to compete this year, each hoping to win the all-expenses paid trip to Spain and a place in the World Champs. It’s an experience that has proved life-changing for previous winners, including last year’s champion Chef Tunc, who describes the competition as “transformative”.
“The recognition I received opened up new opportunities, allowing me to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and professionals,” said Tunc.
“This journey has not only refined my cooking techniques but also deepened my passion for gastronomy. Overall, the competition has played a significant role in shaping my career path and personal growth, making me more adventurous and determined to pursue my culinary dreams.”
The Australasia Tapas Competition is sponsored by Ignite Skills, E-Spain, UNOX, HTT (Hospitality Training Trust), Great Taste NZ, Nestlé, Puhoi Distillery, Chefi and Martinez Charcuteria.
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