The next generation of chefs are proving their talent and skills after taking over one of The Star Gold Coast’s award-winning restaurants, Nineteen at The Star, to prepare an exclusive six-course feast. The 13 apprentices who are currently studying at The Star Culinary Institute, prepared the private dinner for a line-up of guests including Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Hon Shannon Fentiman MP, and top executives from the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Star Gold Coast Executive Chef Dustin Osuch said the apprentices were given a tall order of running the kitchen on their own “We wanted to give the apprentices a feel for what it’s actually like working in an award-winning, fast-paced restaurant where they’re using all the skills they’ve learnt to cook for VIP guests. I am very proud of how the apprentices committed to the event and put their best on the plate to ensure our guests – including Minister Fentiman and our Group Managing Director and CEO Matt Bekier – enjoyed the evening!”
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Hon Shannon Fentiman MP commended the talented apprentices cooking up a storm in the kitchen. “Queensland is home to so many talented chefs and TAFE Queensland and The Star are providing world-class training for our future master chefs,” Fentiman said.“All of our apprentices tonight are on their way to a bright future in the thriving hospitality and tourism industry.”
The Star Entertainment Group Managing Director and CEO Matt Bekier said he was delighted with the culinary prowess shown by the apprentices, as well as the ongoing partnership with TAFE Queensland to train the state’s future chefs.“Across our properties, we currently employ more than 90 full-time culinary apprentices with about half of these in Queensland, as well as 20 school-based culinary apprentices with half from Queensland,” Bekier said.
The Star Gold Coast 17-year old second-year apprentice Lizette Marr said working with her fellow apprentices to run the kitchen for the high calibre group of guests was a challenging yet powerful learning experience. “The Star Culinary Institute is incredible – we participate in so many unique learning opportunities like signature masterclasses run by the chefs, competitions, site visits, and now operating our own kitchen,” Marr said.
Chef Osuch said Nineteen at The Star will now host a ticketed event on 10 July 2019 with the apprentices taking over the restaurant again to serve the same menu for the general public to indulge in. “Our goal is to run an exclusive, invite-only event annually – so that as our apprentices’ skills and experience grow each year, they get another opportunity to show how they’ve developed in front of our tourism and hospitality industry – followed up by the chance to replicate that same menu for the general public to enjoy,” said Chef Osuch.
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