How does it work?
Tastemakers is the ultimate culinary competition for home cooks in Auckland who love to create and compete!
Each month, you’ll receive a mystery box packed with unique ingredients, craft a delicious dish and share it with our vibrant community for a chance to win epic prizes and titles like 'tastemaker of the month' or 'tastemaker of the year'.
Here’s how it works:
Sign up
Join the tastemakers community for $69/month (includes free shipping) by creating your profile online. Ensure your Auckland delivery address and dietary preferences are up to date. Open to all food enthusiasts aged 18+—no culinary degree required!
Your monthly subscription auto-renews on the 1st of each month (e.g., 1 August for August’s competition).
Get ready to unbox tastiness
Your mystery box is shipped by the end of the first full week of each month and typically arrives within 2–3 business days. It's filled with 8–10 curated ingredients—think proteins, spices, fresh produce and surprises to spark creativity. Boxes are designed for households of two or more, with options to accommodate for vegetarians.
Each month may feature a Hero Product—a star ingredient you’ll need to showcase in your dish.
Whip it up
Unleash your inner chef! Use the mystery box ingredients, plus common pantry staples (like oil, salt, or flour), to create a standout dish. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, it’s all about bold flavours and creativity.
Check the tastemakers online portal for competition guidelines and tips to make your dish shine.
Show it off
Upload a photo and brief description of your dish to the tastemakers online portal by the 20th of each month. Share how you used the ingredients and what makes your creation special.
Get rated and celebrated
Your dish is judged by our tasteraters—experienced foodies who score each submission out of 100 points based on:
Creativity (25 points): Innovative flavours and ideas.
Use of Ingredients (25 points): How well you feature the mystery box contents.
Presentation (25 points): Visual appeal and plating.
The X Factor (25 points): That unique spark that makes your dish unforgettable.
Scores are averaged across multiple tasteraters for fairness and you’ll receive constructive feedback via the portal. Compare your ranking on the leaderboard in your tastebuddy groups and foodies across New Zealand.
The highest-scoring dish each month wins 'tastemaker of the month' and prizes like premium kitchen gear or restaurant vouchers. Compete consistently for 6+ months (August–July), and you could be crowned 'tastemaker of the year', earning a trophy and culinary fame!
Tastemakers is all about celebrating talent, creativity and collaboration. Now, let’s get tasty!