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Latest issue - August / September 2010 Mana 95

Southern hospitality is tops!

Monique Rutene and Cindy Hughes

Monique Rutene hasn't let fame go to her head. Monique, who works at the Rosebank Lodge in the deep southern town of Balclutha was judged first in the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) Modern Apprentice in Food and Beverage Competition for 2010.

But while her achievement has brought her nationwide publicity, the 21-year-old restaurant and functions supervisor enjoys her work and plans to see out her apprenticeship in her present job. Monique says she owes it to the Clutha Licensing Trust to stay where she is at present as the Trust has underwritten her apprenticeship and encouraged her in her chosen career.

The national competition ended with eight finalists competing for the national title at South Auckland's Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) in June. All are currently in their secondyear training with HSI and Monique was the only South Island representative.

Cindy's Vision

Cindy Hughes (Ngati Porou) has a vision for her future and it's very different from the one she might have imagined when she found herself in prison at 19.

At 18, Cindy had finished her training as a chef under Paul Gregory in Auckland, but before she could apply those skills working in the industry she loved, she was serving a prison sentence. After her release she found it difficult to get back into the working world.

Now aged 30, Cindy is part-way through a one-year Diploma in Hospitality Management (Food and Beverage) at NorthTec and wants to use her qualification as a pathway to setting up her own business.

Check out Cindy's Honey Roasted Kumara and Pumpkin Soup as our latest recipe.

More on these articles in Mana Issue 95