Eight chefs & 12 snacks prepare for battle
5 March 2026
What happens when you mix four rising stars with four experienced mentors, who are all bursting to impress one of New Zealand’s most well-known foodie critics?
The answers will be revealed at the Battle of the Snack on 16 April, which will also serve as the first event in this year’s 18-day Flavours of Plenty Festival.
It’s the fourth time the Battle event will be hosted by Tourism Bay of Plenty and Cuisine magazine editor/owner Kelli Brett at Saltwater, Mount Maunganui.
Attendees will watch four of the Coastal Bay of Plenty’s most experienced chefs guide four rising culinary stars to create 12 rounds of bite-sized snacks for guests to taste, as they compete for votes for the coveted Judge’s Choice and People’s Choice titles.
Most of last year’s mentor chefs have agreed to return and volunteer for this year’s event. These include Paul Patterson (owner of Fisherman’s Wharf Café, Ōhope), Malika Ganley (recipe developer and cooking experience operator), Shane Yardley (Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology tutor and business owner), and Ian Harrison (chef patron at The Grocer).
Left to right: Paul Patterson, Malika Ganley, Shane Yardley, Ian Harrison
They’ll each be assigned one of this year’s fresh batch of mentee chefs: John Trongoy (Saltwater), Paige Nicholls (Sugo), Giancarlos Burrows (Fife Lane), and Pfeifer McIntyre (Harbourside).
Left to right: John Trongoy, Paige Nicholls, Giancarlos Burrows, Pfeifer McIntyre
“It’s promising to be another entertaining and very tasty premier culinary showdown. It really is a great way to kickstart the whole festival,” says Kelli (pictured left).
“The Battle of the Snack winners will enjoy some well-earned kudos on the night, and the winning recipe and event highlights will be showcased in a future edition of Cuisine, later this year.”
The Flavours of Plenty Festival is offering nearly 60 foodie events across Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, and Whakatāne between 16 April and 3 May 2026.
Tourism Bay of Plenty head of destination marketing, Loretta Crawford, says it’s the fifth time the festival is being held, with this year the biggest one yet.
“This reflects the ongoing support from our coastal region’s food and beverage producers, event organisers, and hospitality providers.
“Tickets to the Battle of the Snack are always among the first to get snapped up, and I want to acknowledge the mentor chefs who are volunteering their time for this event.
“I’d also like to give a shoutout to Southern Hospitality, Herringbone Wine, Waitoa free range chicken, Best Behaviour rum, and Saltwater, who are all contributing to make the Battle of the Snack event happen.
“Our other key funders, sponsors, and partners are also absolutely vital to the festival’s ongoing success,” she says.
These include Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Whakatāne District Council, the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE), Air New Zealand, Tasman Holiday Parks, Downtown Tauranga, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Holland Beckett, Kale Print, Quest Mount Maunganui, and Trinity Wharf Tauranga.
For more event information, see www.flavoursofplentyfestival.com.
Top image: The winner of the 2025 Judge’s Choice award (Rikayla Bridge-Zwezerynen – third from left) was announced during last year’s Battle of the Snack.