‘Ahopanilolo teacher awarded chef scholarship [1]
Friday, September 5, 2014 - 18:37. Updated on Saturday, September 6, 2014 - 15:35.
Helen Penitani Sitani was awarded a scholarship in culinary to study at the Auckland University of Technology in Nadi last week.
A teacher at the ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute in Nuku’alofa, she was chosen from a class of 17 at a Pacific Chefs Culinary one-week workshop.
Three of the region's celebrity chefs Lance Seeto, Colin Chung and Shailesh Naidu taught participants how to use local ingredients in their cooking.
Helen, who is a mother of two children, hoped to engage with the local agricultural industry and run a dinner where local chefs and members of the public can display Tongan cooking, using local ingredients.
"To leave home for two-years to undertake this course will be a good challenge and it will be really beneficial for me and my country," she said.
John Callaghan the Head of AUT Culinary Arts Department said she was expected to graduate with a National Diploma in Culinary Arts level five.
“With a little bit of experience she will be able to become a Chef de partie - as part of the program we would encourage and help her get some part time work so by the time she graduates should be ready for that kind of responsibility.”
The training will cover all aspects of culinary arts including garnishee, patisserie work, kitchen management, and gastronomy information technology in the industry in New Zealand.
The workshop run by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and the University of the South Pacific and was funded by the European Union.