Chelsea Mendes
“My tutor increased my confidence as a woman in this profession – showing me that one day I could become the head of a professional kitchen.”
Chelsea travelled from India to New Zealand to complete her Certificate in Cookery with The Culinary Collective in Waikato.
Before making her way to New Zealand, Chelsea worked as a flight attendant for an Indian international air carrier.
“I’m a big-time foodie so I enjoyed travelling around the world to experience all the different food cuisines.”
“Given my rich cultural heritage, my taste buds had become acquainted to the delicious herbs and spices of India – why is why I was so drawn towards the culinary world.”
The challenges of nationwide lockdowns during 2020 didn’t stop Chelsea from turning her love for food into a career.
Dedicated to succeeding regardless of obstacles along the way, Chelsea was awarded the Student of the Year Award at the 2020 Culinary Collective graduation.
Chelsea says her female tutors at TCC played a critical role in her advancing her skills and self-belief as a chef.
“My tutor increased my confidence as a woman in this profession – showing me that one day I could become the head of a professional kitchen.”
With boosted confidence, Chelsea would go onto catch the eye of food spectators across the industry.
In 2021, Chelsea competed in the Waikato Regional Culinary Fare, walking away with a gold medal and top of the class in the Main Meal category. She would then go on to be named Emerging Chef of the Year as part of the Waikato Hospitality Awards.
It is evident Chelsea has a natural passion and talent for the industry – recruited soon after her graduation to be a Sous Chef at Thyme Square, a restaurant based in Hamilton renowned for its hand-crafted and locally sourced cuisine.
When asked what’s the secret to her success in the workforce, Chelsea says: “Being a team player is important. In the kitchen when things get stressful, we must be able to rely on our team to do their part and feel supported. This goes a long way towards creating an excellent food service.”
As a beaming example of the value of international students to tertiary education and the wider New Zealand workforce, Chelsea was featured in the Independent Schools New Zealand newsletter for May 2022.
Chelsea graduated with a Level 4 Certificate in Cookery and a Level 5 Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) (Cookery Strand).
