Minister for Training visits Le Cordon Bleu Brisbane

Minister for Training visits Brisbane students

This month, Le Cordon Bleu Australia had a visit from the Minister for Training and Skills Development in Brisbane, masterclasses with guest chefs in Sydney, wellbeing sessions in Melbourne, and Adelaide launched a series of webinars.

BRISBANE INSTITUTE

Minister Shannon Fentiman visits culinary students
Taking a break from a hectic schedule last week Minister for Training and Skills Development, Hon. Shannon Fentiman, visited the First Course Bistro at South Bank campus for a quick refuel. Meeting with Le Cordon Bleu Brisbane culinary arts and hospitality students, Minister Fentiman took a tour of the bistro and the kitchens, where she chatted to students about their studies and aspirations after graduation.

Demonstrating their exemplary culinary skills, students prepared a selection of delicious dessert treats for the Minister to take back to her team. Our Hospitality students also made sure she was armed with her coffee of choice, a flat white, as she headed back to work!

SYDNEY INSTITUTE

Masterclasses delight Sydney students & alumni

Le Cordon Bleu Sydney has been hosting a series of virtual master classes each week during August and September. Students were excited to attend an American BBQ Masterclass by internationally trained Chef Ben Farley who demonstrated Spice crusted hot smoked salmon with citrus & fennel salad, Beef short ribs with apple bourbon sauce. Ben founded BBQ Cooking School in 2004 and has trained over 120,000 people through the School in his 20 years’ culinary experience. He shared tips and techniques of his master barbequing skills, and delighted the class with his passion for food and entertainment.

Pastry Chef Aline Bonvechio, a Le Cordon Bleu Sydney alumna, thrilled patisserie students with a demonstration of her specialty modern Hazelnut praline cake with caramelised dark chocolate mousse & chocolate glaze. Aline shared her experiences as owner of a successful catering business, Aline Bonvechio Doces Finos in Brazil. Today she works as Pastry Chef at Mrs Jones the Baker, an artisan bakery and gelato.

Students have enjoyed masterclasses by Son Sewoo (Head Chef, General Chao), Sonia Quek (Chocolatier Continental Patisserie), Kasper Christensen (Executive Chef, Sydney Opera House), Hugh Whitehouse (General Manager, Pretty Beach House) and Morgan Clementson (Sourdough Ambassador, Puratos Australia).

MELBOURNE INSTITUTE

Wellbeing sessions nurture students in lockdown

With the importance of mental wellbeing in our collective focus, Le Cordon Bleu Melbourne has launched remote wellbeing sessions for their students living in lockdown. The virtual sessions have seen an immediate positive impact, with students saying they feel more focused, relaxed, and are even sleeping better. Student Services Manager, Simone Bell says: 'Our Melbourne students have, unsurprisingly, expressed feelings of uncertainty, home-sickness, and isolation from not having their usual face-to-face contact with peers.'

Twice weekly virtual group sessions are currently available for students at Melbourne campus. The group sessions allow students a safe space to connect and chat, practice mindfulness, and focus on building self-esteem.

ADELAIDE INSTITUTE

Free webinars on the future of hospitality

Hosted by Darren Camilleri (National Head of Industry Engagement, Le Cordon Bleu Australia) Le Cordon Bleu Australia is hosting Industry Voices Webinar Series 2020, featuring thought-provoking discussions with an expert panel about the current challenges and future of the hospitality industry.

Designed for hospitality industry employees, those looking to enter the industry, and those interested in the future of hospitality, the webinars will feature lively discussions about how each sector of the industry is facing their current challenges and consider what hospitality might look like in the future.