NZ-UK Link Foundation Modern Cookery Apprentice
16 October 2009
The NZ-UK Link Foundation Cookery Modern Apprentice of the Year Award is the New Zealand side of the Foundation's Culinary Exchange Awards and offers the working opportunity of a lifetime for a young New Zealand chef to travel and work in Britain for six weeks.
The Foundation sponsors this award catergory within the New Zealand Hospitality Standards Institute's annual Excellence in Training Awards. Applications closed at the end of March for the 2009 competition and applicants needed to have completed 12 months of their apprenticeship by 7 July 2009 and be intending to complete the apprenticeship. The final cook-off was held in July. More information is available here.
Thomas Williams of the George Hotel in Christchurch has been named the 2009 NZ-UK Link Foundation Cookery Apprentice of the Year, within the Hospitality Standards Institute’s awards of excellence (pictured). He receives a six week work experience placement in England organised by Kiwi restaurateur Peter Gordon.
HSI chief executive Steve Hanrahan says the high standard of the competition and entrants indicates the strong future of NZ hospitality. “The competitors worked extremely hard to prepare for this event and are a great example of the talented, passionate young people that will go far in the hospitality industry,” he says.
Thomas Townsend of SkyCity restaurants in Auckland was the 2008 winner of the award. At the time he said he was inspired by the opportunities the prize was to bring him. "This is the highlight of three years of hard training. The prize is amazing and changes everything - my career and life will change for the better." See Thomas' report to find out how he got on during his study period in the UK.
His Kiwi predecessors were: Porsha Fraser, from 35 Degrees South Aquarium Restaurant & Bar in Pahia (2007; Heather Kanuik from dine by Peter Gordon restaurant in Auckland (2006) who Carl Wills (2005) formerly of Sail Rock Cafe in Mangawhai Heads in Northland; Logan Turner of SkyCity Restaurant, Auckland (2004); and Craig Crocombe of Wellington's Duxton Hotel (2003).
The 2009 competition will take place on 5 July 2009 in Auckland. Information will be posted in due course at www.hsi.co.nz.
Its British sister award is the NZ-UK Link Foundation Culinary Challenge.
Files
- 2006 Modern Cookery Apprentice Winner
- Download: 2006_Modern_Apprenticeship_Winner.pdf (27.26 KB)
- Thomas Townsend Report 2008
- Download: Thomas_Townsend_2008.pdf (62.87 KB)