HOSPITALITY students at one of the region’s high schools have been given a taste of the celebrity life, spending two days in the kitchen with Matt Gollinski.
Television chef, advisor to Peppers Resort restaurants, and ambassador to numerous organisations, Mr Gollinski has been spending two days a year with Beenleigh State High School students since 2017.
He, with the students help, put together a five-course meal for paying guests.
Mr Gollinski said there was a shortage of chefs in the hospitality industry because we’d previously relied on overseas chefs to fulfil the needs of restaurants.
“By doing this, we can ensure the kids are excited by cooking,” he said.
“I wouldn’t keep coming back if I didn’t think it was important. People watch Masterchef and they think it’s incredibly difficult to get a job. It’s not – all you have to do is be committed.”
Mr Gollinski’s “helpers” were given a hands-on experience in the kitchen. Some as classes, others as individuals helping plate up on the two nights of Spanish tapas.
“I try to create a menu that incorporates a lot of techniques, along with ingredients that the kids won’t have ever seen. For example, we’ve got things like cuttlefish, or zucchini flowers.”
First course was zucchini flower with ricotta, escabeche eggplant and salsa verde, followed by cuttlefish and chorizo with roasted peppers and capers, saffron and ailo.
“All the students have been good over the years,” he said.
“When I come back year after year, I hear of those who’ve been given an apprenticeship, so it’s great to hear those things.”
