From Wiri to Valladolid: Tapas Talent Wanted to Shine in High-Stakes Cook-Off!
The annual Tapas Competition is back and Skills Group is now calling for chefs to enter the exciting event which takes place on Tuesday 29 July 2025 at Skills Ignite in Wiri, Auckland.
Now in its seventh year, the competition promises to be a high-energy showcase of creativity, skill, and flavour – open to chefs of all levels from across New Zealand and Australia.
Running from 8:30am to 1:00pm, the event is open to the public and is expected to attract between 30 to 40 entrants including student chefs and industry professionals. Competitors will design, cook, and present a creative tapas dish that captivates the judges and tantalises the taste buds. The only guideline is that one kind of tapa is prepared in eight portions – ideally costing no more than NZ$4 per serving.
Chef Mark Erickson – CIA Judge
This year’s competition is particularly exciting, with a prestigious judging panel led by Certified Master Chef Mark Erickson, Provost at the world-renowned Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Judges will assess entries based on taste, technique, presentation, and innovation.
The stakes are high: the winner will not only earn the title and a trophy, but also an exclusive, all-expenses-paid opportunity to represent Australasia at the World Tapas Competition in Valladolid, Spain, on 10 November 2024.
Winners will also take home:
- 1st Place: €10,000
- 2nd Place: €5,000
- 3rd Place: €3,000
Registrations to compete at the event close on 10 July 2025.
Skills Ignite Head of Global Education Partnership and Business Development, Jasbir Kaur says the competition was born out of her experience at the World Tapas Competition in Spain.
“I was inspired to ensure New Zealand had a strong and ongoing presence on the global culinary stage,” she says.
“Tapas is the perfect format for showcasing chefs’ creativity and innovation. We want our learners and visitors to be inspired, and to keep raising the bar in hospitality.”
The event, which takes place at Skills Group Ignite – 98 Kerrs Road, Wiri – will be livestreamed on the Skills Ignite Facebook page, allowing food lovers everywhere to tune in.
To register to compete go to https://form.jotform.com/241691840989371
