From an unorthodox baklava dish starring New Zealand king salmon to a show-stopping twist on the Southland cheese roll – the Australasia Tapas Competition has served up serious sizzle since it first kicked off at Ignite Skills in Auckland.
Now in its sixth year, the event encompasses all the right ingredients for a reality cooking show, pushing culinary boundaries, wowing celebrity judges and fast tracking the careers of our most talented tapas chefs.
To be held at Ignite Skills state-of-the-art cookery school on August 27, the 2024 event will see around 30 chefs from New Zealand and Australia pit their skills in front of a panel of esteemed judges – including industry heavyweights Peter Gordon, Sid Sahrawat and – for the third consecutive year – Simon Gault.
But where are the previous winners now? As the kitchens heat up for our 2024 contenders, Hospitality Business reconnects with former tapas champions who are blazing a trail.
Eda Tunc, 2023 Australasia Tapas Champion
Chef de Partie, Cordis Hotel by Langham
“Winning the tapas competition was a transformative experience. It boosted my confidence and encouraged me to experiment more in the kitchen. The recognition I received opened up new opportunities, allowing me to connect with fellow food enthusiasts and professionals. 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 in pursuing my culinary dreams.”
Chef Tunc’s top tip: Highlight the unique qualities of your ingredients and honour their origins, while infusing your own creativity and current culinary techniques.
Amber Heaton, 2022 Australasia Tapas Champion
Demi Chef, Cucina Vivo, The Star Gold Coast
A spectacular salmon ceviche with pickled cucumber, horseradish mouse, yuzu gel and a lemon myrtle sable earned this Gold Coast chef the grand title. Shortly afterwards, she smashed it at the World champs, winning ‘Most Modern Tapa’ in Valladolid, Spain.
“The competition gave me a chance to visit a country I’d never seen before. I met some amazing people who I’m still close with today. Having competed in many other culinary competitions, this also gave me a new set of skills and a fresh perspective to take forward into future competitions.”
Chef Heaton’s top tip: Do something unique and that you’re passionate about. If you do something you love, it’ll shine through in the tapa!
Fred Wong, 2022 Australasia Tapas Champion
Executive Chef, Runo Group
For the first time in the competition’s history, 2022 saw two competitors picked to represent Australasia at the World Champs. Chef Wong’s showstopping ‘Ash Dog’ – a bite-sized sensation of prawns, scallops, onion ash and black garlic – secured his spot and he went on to dazzle judges, placing second in ‘World Tapas’.
“This unique experience helped me gain confidence and motivation,” he says.
Chef Wong’s top tip: Keep things simple and bite-sized.
Tino Passano, 2019 Australasia Tapas Champion
Private Chef, The Old Barn, UK
Our 2019 winner and former head chef at Waiheke Island’s Tantalus Estate Vineyard is now making his mark in the UK as a private chef. His innovative take on a Kiwi classic – a Duncan venison, cacao, suet and harakeke sausage roll – earned him the championship title, and that highly-coveted all expenses paid trip to Spain to compete in the World Tapas Competition.
“The experience of going to Spain and cooking in a completely different environment was a great challenge and huge honour. It really proved that with hard work you can achieve great goals.”
Chef Passano’s top tip: Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries!
Dani Chen, 2018 Australasia Tapas Champion
Former chef at Bellota by Peter Gordon, now living in Italy
Just three years into her culinary career Chef Shuyun (Dani) Chen knocked it out of the park. Not only did she take out the inaugural Australasia Tapas grand title, but she also aced it in Spain, winning the World Tapas Championship.
“Representing Australasia at the World Tapas Competition was an eye-opening experience, especially getting to know brilliant chefs from all over the world, learning about their cultures and how they blend the cuisines of their homeland into Spanish tapas.”
Chef Chen’s top tip: Add in your personal touch but don’t forget it still has to be a Spanish tapa.
International Recognition
Jasbir Kaur, Australasia Tapas Competition organiser, World Tapas competitor 2017, competition judge.
After wowing chefs at Michelin-starred Disfrutar in Barcelona, Chef Jasbir Kaur was invited to compete in Valladolid’s 2017 World Tapas Competition, where she impressed judges so much that they tasked her with finding the very best tapas chef in Australasia, to compete at the Worlds the following year. And so, the Australasia Tapas Competition was born.
Ever since, Chef Kaur has supported and organised the Tapas Competition in New Zealand, and in doing so, has kept Aotearoa firmly on the culinary world map. She has also judged at the World Tapas Competition and Truffle Competition in Spain, presented at the Culinary Institute of America, and cooked at the James Beard Foundation – the Oscars of food! And in a few weeks she’ll be winging her way to Sarawak, as an esteemed judge at the inaugural Sarawak Tapas Competition.
“I feel honoured to have the opportunity each year to organise and ensure New Zealand’s representation on the world stage. Competing at the World Tapas Competition is a lifechanging experience, and I’m extremely proud that Ignite Skills and our sponsors E-Spain, HTT, Nestlé, UNOX, Chefi, Martinez Charcuteria and Puhoi Distillery are continuing to give chefs this incredible platform to represent New Zealand on the global stage.
“This is a competition that can catapult you onto the global stage – if you are hungry to make your mark in the industry it’s your golden ticket,” says Chef Jasbir Kaur, competition organiser and Head of Global Education Partnership and Business Development at Skills Group.
With just 25 minutes to prepare and present eight portions of innovative tapas the heat will be on, but it will be worth the blood, sweat and tears for one chef extraordinaire. As well as earning the prestigious title of 2024 Australasian Tapas Champion, the winner will secure an all-expenses paid trip to Valladolid, Spain, to compete in the iconic World Tapas Competition.
