Our third year of the Battle of the Snack was nothing short of phenomenal. Teaming up once again with the brilliant crew behind the Flavours of Plenty Festival in the stunning Bay of Plenty, this sold-out showdown saw four of the region’s top culinary talents join forces with four rising young chefs for a high-energy, high-impact snack spectacular. Together, they served up more than 1400 jaw-dropping snacks straight from the pass at Saltwater Seafood Bar & Grill in Mount Maunganui, to a packed house of passionate food-and-drink lovers. The vibe: electric. The flavours: next level.

What started as a cheeky celebration of our love for the humble chef’s snack has become something so much more: a platform to celebrate creativity, empower emerging talent and champion some incredible local producers. It’s also a magical way of kicking off the 18-day Flavours of Plenty Festival with a bang and we couldn’t be more proud.

This event is about mentorship, community and showcasing the bold, boundary-pushing spirit of the Bay of Plenty. And judging by the buzz in the room, the locals are hungry for more.

This year’s snack menu included some amazing creations and it was Rikayla Bridge-Zwezerynen (commis chef at Solera) with her chargrilled octopus, romesco, potato and herb snack who caught the attention of Cuisine magazine editor Kelli Brett, who co-hosted the event and selected the Judge’s Choice winner. Mentor chef Shane Yardley said that over the month of working closely with Rikayla, the other teams and local suppliers, he saw firsthand the passion, creativity and drive that makes the local food scene so special.

An enthusiastic audience of avid foodies was given the chance to vote for their favourite and Nathan Turley of Somethin’ Somethin’ café in Mount Maunganui – with the help of mentor Paul Patterson of Fisherman’s Wharf Ōhope – won their votes with his Malaysian-flavoured chicken wing and sambal mayo snack. Visit cuisine.co.nz to pick up Nathan’s recipe.

OCTOPUS UNLEASHED: A BOLD BITE FROM THE OCEAN

We’ve shared a simplified version of Rikayla’s winning snack here for you to make at home. We think she has summed up the importance of this magical event perfectly when she says, “This competition showed me that, even at 18, my ideas matter. My voice matters. And my food has a place at the table.”

Thanks to Suzy Spear and Rae Baker at Flavours of Plenty, Jay Thomas and the team at saltwaterseafood.co.nz for going above and beyond to deliver this event. Keep an eye out for Flavours of Plenty 2026 at flavoursofplentyfestival.com