Enrol Now For Central Otago Course

Budding Chefs Encouraged To Enrol Now For Central Otago Course

A special part-time course offered by Otago Polytechnic can help budding chefs get ahead in a competitive market.

The one-year part-time National Certificate in Hospitality (Basic Cookery) is designed specifically for those keen to gain a national qualification while working in the industry.

Peter Schorer, the Polytechnic’s Hospitality Programme Director, believes the Cromwell-based course is perfect for many Central Otago kitchen workers.

“It helps students with little or no experience in a commercial kitchen environment to develop the skills and knowledge required of chefs and gives them the opportunity to earn and learn at the same time.

“We cover a variety of food preparation and cookery techniques including stocks, sauces, soups, salads, fish, eggs, meat and poultry, vegetables, rice, pasta and hot and cold desserts.

“There’s a strong focus on current cookery trends and menu styles in New Zealand and we also cover topics like nutrition, basic employment law and health and safety legislation,” he says.

The course provides an ideal pathway to a Certificate in Professional Cookery (Level 4).

Debbie Crompton, a highly experienced and award-winning chef in her own right, presents the course and says it provides an excellent opportunity for kitchen workers to gain full trade qualifications while still being able to work in the industry.

“The course has been specifically designed around the fact that most students are already working in kitchens and gives them the real practical and theoretical knowledge they need to get ahead,” she says.

Janet Slocombe from Queenstown’s Pig & Whistle bar is currently participating in the course and says it‘s really valuable.

“My employer is very supportive and happy to work my shifts around the Tuesday classes. Every week I’m learning something new at the Poly and am able to come back and put it into practice at work.”

Students attend classes one day a week at the Cromwell campus and then do three short blocks in off-peak times - four weeks in May and July/August and two weeks in September - when they have a bit more downtime. For those who are juggling commitments there’s also the option of completing the theory component in their own time.

Students can enrol now for the 24 August start date by contacting the Otago Polytechnic Cromwell campus on 0800 765 9276. Applications preferred by 5pm, Friday 31 July

The course is Government-subsidised for domestic students and with subsidy costs $3,200.

For more information please visit www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz.

ENDS

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