Last night Vicki O’Connor and I had the pleasaure of attending the HGT ( Hospitality Group Training) Youth Skills Showcase at the Hyatt ballroom. The top 20 young apprentice chefs in WA had been selected to create and present the food. The theme for the night was Australia and featured amazing Australian food and flavours.

We were delighted to see that  Tegan Cardosa, current Year 12 student and completing a Cert II Hospitality front of House certificate in External VET was there, having been selected to help serve the 500 guests.

Then we noticed that Zac Tholen was one of the chefs selected to work in the kitchen in the entre team. I later discovered from his mother that Zac created and was responsisible on the night for the vegetarian entre option for those with dietary needs. Zac is a 1st year apprentice chef at North Beach Deli. Zac left school at the end of last year from year 11 wanting to follow his passion for food.

The highlight of the evening was seeing Sean Woolford (Class of 2014) as Chef de Cuisine for dessert. He created the dessert ( see the picture below) and was responsible for leading the team of dessert chefs for the night. Sean is  finishing his apprenticeship in January next year and is currently at Hillarys Yacht Club a la carte restaurant. It was great to hear him speak about his dessert via video link from the kitchen.

Strawberry gumleaf cake and lilli lilli/orange maramlade, served with vanilla panna cotta , chocolate macadamia crumb and rosella puree.

The students and their families were pleased for me to circulate their photos and their story of success. Sean said he would love to talk to other Hospitality students . I have never heard him speak so passionately.

Cathy Trethowen

VET Liaison Officer

Pictured below: Sean Woolford.

Zac Tholen.

Tegan Cardosa (without tie).

‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.’ – Hebrews 13:2