Steven Segedin
“It is safe to say that The Culinary Collective and the amazing tutors that guided me over the last few years have changed my life completely. Passion, drive, hard work, and support from the TCC team has unlocked a world of possibilities for me.”
Steven Segedin says The Culinary Collective (TCC) changed his life for the better after he signed up to study a Level 4 Certificate in Cookery in 2020 – giving him a newfound sense of purpose and fulfilment.
“Before I was a student at TCC, I had never cooked a proper meal in my life.”
“I had always had this desire to become a chef, but life would always get in the way. One day I woke up thinking, why not take a chance and pursue what I love?”
With the support of TCC, Steven landed an internship with a prestigious interior design firm based in Auckland City, catering for over 50 interior designers.
“The internship was a huge confidence booster. Cooking high quality meals in large quantities for real people and feeling the rush of a real-life service was a thrilling experience.”
“During my internship, I learnt about sustainability and local influences on the production of food – making me realise that that being a chef isn’t just about being able to cook. It’s about bringing people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and histories together through food and supporting local economies with a professional system of practice.”
In July 2021, Steven appeared on TV One News alongside other TCC students selected to prepare a Matariki seven-course meal for the Tohunga Tūmau event, held at the Queens Wharf in Auckland City.
The event celebrated the Māori New Year and Puanga, featuring an all-star cast of esteemed Māori head chefs and authentic Māori dishes – where Stephen worked alongside some of the country’s biggest names in cookery – such as Rewi Spraggon, Peter Gordon and Grant Kitchen.
The students did an exceptional job helping plate 3,000 dishes in total – showcasing their work-ready skills and eye for detail.
“The craziest night of my life but one of the absolute most enjoyable and moments of growth.”
Now, Steven is working alongside renowned Kiwi chef, Peter Gordon, who owns several high-end restaurants in Auckland, London and New York City.
As part of his on-the-job component of his TCC Level 6 course, Steven will learn from Peter Gordon and other prestigious chefs at Homeland, an Auckland-based cooking school ad food innovation hub.
“It is safe to say that The Culinary Collective and the amazing tutors that guided me over the last few years have changed my life completely. Passion, drive, hard work, and support from the TCC team has unlocked a world of possibilities for me.”
Steven graduated with a Level 4 Certificate in Cookery, a Level 5 Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) (Cookery Strand) and is currently studying a Diploma in Culinary Management (Level 6).
