It’s two in a row for chef mentor Shane Yardley, who had the privilege of watching his protégé Rikayla Bridge-Zwezerynen collect the Judge’s Choice award at last night’s Battle of the Snack event.

The innovative culinary competition was a key event to mark the start of this year’s 18-day Flavours of Plenty Festival.

Four aspiring chefs were matched with four of the coastal Bay of Plenty’s most experienced chefs to produce eight different snack platters during the event at Saltwater, Mount Maunganui.

Rikayla Bridge-Zwezerynen (left) and her event mentor Shane Yardley.

Bridge-Zwezerynen chargrilled octopus, romesco, potato, herb, and squid ink snack caught the attention of Cuisine magazine editor and owner Kelli Brett, who co-hosted the event and selected the Judge’s Choice winner.

She is a Toi Ohomai cookery graduate who now works as a commis chef at Mount Maunganui restaurant Solera.

The chargrilled octopus, romesco, potato, herb, and squid ink snack which earned the Judge’s Choice title.

It’s the second time Shane has mentored a Judge’s Choice winner, after supporting Aditya Raut when he claimed the title during last year’s Battle of the Snack event.

Shane’s a renowned chef with global experience who has led some of New Zealand’s most celebrated restaurants. He’s a chef tutor at Toi Ohomai and also offers private catering, pop-up dinners, and cookery demonstrations.

The 125 ticketholders at the Battle of the Snack event were also given the chance to vote for their favourite snack. Nathan Turley’s curry Malay-flavoured stuffed chicken wing and sambal mayo snack managed to pip two other close contenders to win the People’s Choice title.

People’s Choice snack winner Nathan Turley (right) and his event mentor Paul Patterson.

Turley is owner of Somethin’ Somethin café in Mount Maunganui. He was mentored by Paul Patterson, who has more than 17 years in the culinary sector and is now the owner of Fisherman’s Wharf, in Ōhope.

Flavours of Plenty Festival director Rae Baker said the Battle of the Snack was a fun and tasty evening showcasing the region’s beautiful flavours and the talented people who work in its hospitality sector.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all our incredible chefs who donated their time to upskill our region’s rising culinary stars. We also had some generous sponsors and supporters who made this event possible: Saltwater, Bay Distilling, Mount Brewing Co., Leveret & Mills Reef, Herringbone Wines, and Southern Hospitality.

“Rikayla’s win means her octopus dish will feature in an upcoming article in Cuisine, which is really exciting. It’s a great way to share her culinary feat with a national audience,” Rae said.

The Battle of the Snack is one of more than 50 events being held over the next 18 days during the Flavours of Plenty Festival. The annual festival is a key project for Tourism Bay of Plenty. For more information visit flavoursofplentyfestival.com.