Wollongong chef Alex Hemmings is heading to Dubai in November to compete internationally.
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The opportunity came about as part of the TAFE NSW Wollongong - UOW team entry in the Solar Decathlon global house design competition.
But the TAFE NSW Wollongong Certificate III in Commercial Cookery apprentice is cooking for different judges than the students involved in the design and build of the Desert Rose.
Mr Hemmings has to demonstrate how well the kitchen in the Wollongong team’s house performs. And will use it cook for three group dinners in the house. There will be 10 people from other countries at each sitting and he won’t know any dietary or religious requirements until the day before.
The task involves using standard residential home kitchen appliances.
Mr Hemmings has been training hard and hosted a practice event at Wollongong TAFE last week with some of the dishes he is planning to serve in Dubai.
“I used the practice to get feedback and comments from people I don’t know so I can improve.”
Mr Hemmings started going to Nowra TAFE early in 2018 for his final year when he got a phone call asking if he wanted to be part of the TAFE and University team’s trip to Dubai. All he knew at that stage was he would be required to cook for three nights.
“Getting to compete internationally sounded really good. As a part of the competition to test how the house runs they host dinner parties which I cook for. And I get judged on my food.”
Mr Hemmings said it was a golden opportunity to impress in one of the most progressive cities in the world.
I don’t know where this is going to take me and what opportunities might arise
- Alex Hemmings
“I don’t know where this is going to take me and what opportunities might arise,” he said.
“The main thing I want to do is show how Australian chefs are very multicultural. I have chosen three different cuisines.
“There is an Australian night, an Asian night a Middle Eastern night just to showcase my versatility as an Australian chef.”
Another point important to Mr Hemmings relates to how the Desert Rose not only is functional on solar powerer house. But how people with dimentia can to live there.
“As part of my menu I challenged myself and chose only main proteins for each menu item that will contain either a mineral or a vitamin which will help prevent brain deterioration. I have done a lot of planning.”
When he returns to Australia Mr Hemmings will be a fully qualified chef and wants to do a Diploma in Hospitality next.
He decided he wanted to be a chef after growing up in Albion Park Rail and then working front of house in a Jamaica Blue. It was when he got the chance to help out in the kitchen that he decided to become an apprentice. Fut goals now include having his own restaurant.
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
