Culinary Fare 2026

For more than 20 years, Cater Plus has proudly partnered with Wintec to support the Waikato Culinary Fare, helping inspire and develop the next generation of hospitality professionals.

This year marked the 21st Waikato Culinary Fare, with more than 400 aspiring chefs and hospitality students from 20 schools and tertiary providers showcasing their talent, creativity and passion for the industry. It was fantastic to see such a high standard of competition and to witness the future of hospitality in action.

The event is about more than competition. It's about creating opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop their skills, receive feedback from industry professionals and discover the many rewarding career pathways hospitality has to offer.

Our Founder, Paul Hodge, attended this year's event to celebrate the incredible talent on display and our long-standing partnership with Wintec. We were also proud to have Culinary & Innovation Lead Matt Shuker and Food Champion Aishwarya Sawant volunteer as judges, sharing their expertise and encouraging the next generation of hospitality professionals.
Congratulations to all the competitors, teachers, judges, volunteers and organisers who made this year's event another outstanding success. We're honoured to continue supporting an event that has helped shape the future of our industry since 2004.