NZMA Taste Showcases Vocational Careers as Record Visitors Attend
15 May 2019 – Around 1000 visitors from as
far as Pukekohe enjoyed the annual TASTE event at NZMA
Sylvia Park over the weekend. TASTE is an action-packed,
vibrant and sugar-coated two-day hospitality and food
extravaganza that showcases current NZMA student’s skills,
and highlights the vocational career options open to
students, and people considering a career change or
upgrading their skills.
Over two days a number of
activities took place including:
• NZMA pastry
tutor Ganesh Khedekar, 2015 Masterchef dessert finalist
judge, and current New Zealand National team Pastry chef,
led his students through a dessert extravaganza, including
the creation of a 6 foot French dessert croquembouche and
multiple draw dropping chocolate sculptures;
•
Pastry students continued to push the boundaries serving up
delectable treats at the nitro bar like ice dragon balls,
popping candy, nitro dots and cookies;
• Foods
inspired from around the world, were available to taste and
share, including sushi, American smoked meats, Maori and
Pasifika specialities, Tapas and favourite Italian
dishes;
• Visitors were able to hop on a blender
bike to make fresh healthy smoothies;
• Coffee
barista students highlighted their skills making the best
brew!
• Watching how to carve the perfect roast,
and set the table for a fine dining experience; and
•
Creating fantastic flower arrangement to impress even the
harshest critic!
Visiting school students were
impressed and amazed watching NZMA students in action, and
the creations they produced. Colleen Jacobsen from Pukekohe
High School said, “On behalf of my staff and students, we
would like to thank you for an amazing day at NZMA. The
students could not stop talking about their experience. I
met up with a parent today, who also expressed their thanks
as their son, who was on the trip, came home and could not
stop talking about their experience and seeing what your
students presented. Your students were
awesome.”
Encouraging students to create the best is
NZMA Pastry tutor, Ganesh Khedekar, who is renowned for
pushing the boundaries on desserts, and his students are
loving the challenges he sets. He says, “These days we
need to teach our students the on-trend skills so they can
create masterpieces, to thrill and dazzle customers. I’m
given a broad remit at NZMA to teach students the pastry
fundamentals with a flourish…..this is what makes our
graduates stand out from the rest!”
Ganesh added,
“Taste NZMA aims to showcase but also inspire future
students, with a passion for cooking. This is a free event,
open to the public to visit us, and see what fantastic
trades we have on offer here. It’s about seeing what job
opportunities are available after doing a programme with
NZMA.”
NZMA provides programmes across a range of
industries including hospitality, cookery, business, retail,
contact centre, trades, sports, early childhood education
and health. Tutors and current students involved in
hospitality, cookery and floristry programmes will be on
site to showcase their skills.
ends