Newsletter: September 2023

Hello everyone,

Congratulations to Sam Lindstrom and Sam Gradowski-Smith who have been selected for the New Zealand Bocuse d'Or Team following a recent competition to find New Zealand's finest young talent.

Sam Lindstrom took top honours to become commis chef to Chef Will Mordido, NZ's candidate for this biennial World Chef Championship, named after leading French chef Paul Bocuse. First up is the Bocuse d’Or Asia-Pacific Competition 2024 where 5 countries will be selected to travel to France for the Global Final in Lyon, January 2025. Read more below.

With summer approaching, we are pleased to offer the Level 3 Foundation Cookery Summer Intensive and welcome Chef Nicolas Drexler to our team. Nic is originally the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France and trained as a chef focusing on patisserie.

At NZSFW, we were honoured to host the Court of Master Sommeliers Workshop and Exams to teach and assess local and international sommeliers. Master Sommeliers Franck Moreau MS from Sydney and Cameron Douglas MS led the programme with great results. Read more here.

Coming up on Wednesday 4 October is our Open Day. Click here to register

On a personal note, I was very impressed to visit Pinoli, 2023 Supreme Champion of the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards who grow Pinus Pinea - the pine nut tree - in Marlborough. These pines offer a new alternative crop to the Pinus Radiata plantations that currently dominate New Zealand. See my photos here.

With best wishes,

Certificate in Cookery Level 3 - Summer Intensive
Starts 10th October 2023

The Cookery Level 3 Summer Intensive runs 3 days per week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) for 18 weeks.

This intake is perfect for University students to complete over their summer break as well as recent High School leavers who are looking to pickup practical skills. The intake commences 10 October 2023 and finishes on 19 February 2024 - just in time for University Semester start.

Induction Week Schedule (First Week only):

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10, 11, 12 October 2023: 9am - 2:30pm
Friday 13 October: No Class
Saturday 14 October class resumes and follows the schedule below.

Regular Course Schedule:

Friday: 10am - 4pm; Saturday & Sunday: 9am - 5pm
18 weeks, part-time (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
10 October 2023 - 19 February 2024
(Includes a 2-week break over Christmas)

Domestic Course fees: NZ $4,110 or half of eligible students' fees free entitlement. (Student Loans Available)
International Course fees: NZ $10,750

For more information, please click here.

Enrolment Deadline: Monday, 9 October 2023.

If you are looking to join the Certificate in Cookery, Level 4 (Advanced), the next intake begins on 13 February 2024.

School Open Day - 4th October

We invite students and their parents to attend our Open Day & School Tour and to meet with our cookery, hospitality and wine tutors. This is a great opportunity for students considering study in 2024.

Open Day: Weds 4 October 2023 from 3pm - 6pm.

Click here to register

Bocuse d'Or Team NZ for Sam Lindstrom

Congratulations to Sam Linstrom on winning the New Zealand Bocuse d'Or Commis Chef competition.

Sam will be commis chef to Chef Will Mordido, NZ's candidate for this biennial World Chef Championship named after leading French chef Paul Bocuse.

Sam Gradowski-Smith was placed 2nd and is also included in the NZ Bocuse d'Or Team.

First up is the Bocuse d’Or Asia-Pacific Competition 2024 which will be held mid 2024 in Asia. From this, 5 countries will be selected to travel to France for the Global Final in Lyon, January 2025. There will be 24 countries competing in the Bocuse d’Or Grand Final.

We will be giving you new more updates on the competition as training and fundraising evolves.

Court of Master Sommeliers Certification

At NZSFW, we were honoured to host the Court of Master Sommeliers Workshop and Exam for Introductory and Certified sommeliers.

Well done Vojtech Cukor who was awarded dux of the programme. He completed WSET Level 3 at NZSFW. Great to see Keely Cho also studied at NZSFW and travelled back from London to attend this certification.

Candidates came from around New Zealand but also from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and even Singapore, it was a very very busy time.

Certificate in Barista and Service Skills Micro-credential

The Certificate in Barista and Service Skills Micro-Credential provides practical, hands-on barista training as well as customer service and communication skills for junior staff in cafés, restaurants or food service.

Mon-Fri, 9am - 2:30pm

27, 28, 29, 30 Nov; 1 December 2023
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 December 2023
11, 12, 13, 14, 15 December 2023

Learn more

Artisan Dumplings - One day workshop

For dumpling lovers, come along to our hands-on class to refine your skills.

We start at the beginning with the preparation of a classic dumpling pastry and then prepare a series of flavoursome fillings.

Finally, you learn to roll, twist and shape these parcels into delicious, fresh dumplings.

Sunday, 1 October from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Learn more

NZ Certificate in Beverage, Barista, Wine & Spirits

The NZQA Certificate in Food & Beverage Level 4, Barista, Wine & Spirits develops practical hospitality skills to enhance your career.

Learn to make great coffees and about the world of wine and spirits, bartending and customer service.

Due to the highly practical nature of this programme, our graduates are able to build pathways to more senior restaurant and hospitality management roles.

Starts 12 February 2024

Learn more

Certificate in New Zealand Wine (Online)

This programme provides an introduction to wine regions, grape varieties and wine styles that have made New Zealand wines famous around the world.

It covers key grape varieties and explores the significance of geography, climate, environment, winemaking techniques and the vision of leading winemakers to establish New Zealand's reputation for fine wines.

The textbook is the New Zealand Wine Guide, by Celia Hay, Director of the New Zealand School of Food and Wine. This book is included in the course fee.

Online: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

9, 11, 16, 18 October 2023
20, 22, 27, 29 November 2023

Learn more

Wine & WSET Programmes

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines - Learn the language of wine, and become comfortable with aromas, flavors, structural characteristics, and more!
7, 9, 14 Nov (Tues, Thurs: 6pm - 9pm)

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines - Explores the important grape varieties of the world and how they are transformed into outstanding wines. WSET is a well-respected international qualification.

Weekends:
4-5 Nov; 18-19 Nov 2023 (9am - 4pm)

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines - The classroom based course over 4 weekends gives you detailed understanding of the wines of the world and their distinctive regions.
Starts 28 Oct, Exam on 10 Dec 2023 (9am - 4pm)