Now in its fourth year, the Battle of the Snack contest – held as part of Flavours of Plenty Festival – took over Saltwater in Mount Maunganui, serving up an evening that was as fast-paced as it was delicious. Chef Paige Nicholls of Sugo, mentored by chef-owner Ian Harrison of The Grocer, emerged as the standout winner of the night, making bite-sized culinary history by claiming both the Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice awards across two inventive snack creations.

Since joining Sugo restaurant in mid-2024, Paige has rapidly developed her skills in the kitchen and taking on the Battle of the Snack competition was another opportunity to push herself and continue growing as a chef. Ian said Paige’s Spice Girls snack was a bold deep-fried choice but after prior sampling by his wife ahead of the event, he was convinced they had the key to the winning recipe. Cuisine editor Kelli Brett agreed, giving her Judge’s Choice award to their cauliflower bhaji with apple kasundi, coriander and jalapeño aioli and pickled onions. And why? “Superb flavours in one perfect bite. Terrific texture with the crunch of the base topped with creamy aioli that delivered an unexpected kick. Pickled onion added the acidity while the apple kasundi partnered perfectly with the cauliflower. Delicious!” For Paige, Competing in the highly anticipated event was reward enough but ending the night with the judge’s approval and a crowd-pleasing triumph was the perfect finish. The diners on the night wielded a hefty input, determining the People’s Choice winner and crowning Paige’s Bambi snack – a venison Wellington spring roll, with portobello, walnut and truffle mousse, spinach, prosciutto and blackberry fluid gel – their top bite. “I just tried to come up with something really yum, and here we are!” Paige said as she stepped in front of the crowd to accept her double-award win. They were joined by a strong line-up of competitors, including John Trongoy of Saltwater, Giancarlos Burrows of Fife Lane and Pfeifer McIntyre from Harbourside Restaurant (now at Solera), each whipping up their own inventive, flavour-packed creations. They were assisted by talented mentor Chefs Paul Patterson, owner and chef of Fisherman’s Wharf, Shane Yardley, tutor at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, and recipe developer Malika Ganley. But it was Paige and Ian’s partnership that ultimately triumphed, becoming the first duo in the event’s history to take out both top titles in the same year.

Cuisine editor Kelli Brett praised the winning dishes, noting that Paige had followed the brief exceptionally well and congratulated all participants on their efforts, praising the way they supported one another to professionally create and present 2000 snacks in just a few hours. flavoursofplentyfestival.com