Get a Chef’s Edge in Brisbane

Brisbane Australia, like Sydney and Melbourne, is an ethnically diverse melting pot. The city is economically strong in tech and industry, two thriving sectors that continue to fuel a growing hospitality, tourism and restaurant industry. Take Australia’s British culinary roots, pair it with ethnic influences from Arabic to Malaysian, add a generous dollop of innovative chefs and you have a thriving and impressive regional food scene.

Culinary Scene in Brisbane

Culinary school in Brisbane could offer valuable career opportunities if you’re motivated. Why? Brisbane has a booming culinary industry and a high demand for new, energetic and passionate professional apprentice chefs, assistant chefs, sous chefs and even dishwashers. The thing to remember is this: when you graduate from a culinary arts program expect to have to pay your dues in a kitchen. Many celebrity chefs started their culinary careers as dishwashers, vegetable choppers and other “lowly” kitchen jobs.

For an inside look at some of the best chefs at work in Brisbane, sample a few of the acclaimed local restaurants:

• Mondo Organics, chef/owner Brenda Fawdon
• Baguette, executive chef Bruno Loubet
• Gianni’s, chef/owner Gianni Greghini

Popular Brisbane Cooking Schools

James St. Cooking School - Small culinary arts school that caters to both ambitious home enthusiasts, student chefs and professionals looking for cooking courses that can take their careers to the next level. Classes are half-day forays into specialized dishes, cuisines or workshops in specialized cooking skills. Professional chefs teach all of the classes and work side-by-side with students. Samples of courses include: knife skills, fast and furious seafood, curries of the world, Indian, and modern Australian cookery.

Brisbane North Institute of TAFE - Technical and Further Education schools are unique to Australia, offer students a wide number of vocational degrees, including cookery. Certificate II in Hospitality prepares students for professional jobs in commercial kitchens. What you learn: food preparation, safety and hygiene, presentation, and a variety of types of dishes. Successful grads from the certificate program may go on to the apprenticeship program.