Alyx Jones
Chef
Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts with a minor in Hospitality
It was her dad who first sparked her passion for cooking, says Alyx Jones who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts with a minor in Hospitality.
“My dad is a great cook and I gained a lot of my passion for it from him. We would watch cooking shows on TV as a family, and the flavours, plating and skills really impressed me. I started experimenting in the kitchen and fell in love with creating interesting dishes. I’m really interested in producing high-quality ready-made meals or condiments or owning a restaurant. Having the ability to be creative in my work is important to me.”
Alyx has now achieved her goal of becoming a chef, and currently works as a full-time production chef for Broke Boy Taco, as well as regularly staging at three-hatted Japanese restaurant Cocoro. She’s now preparing to take the next big step in her career, setting her sights overseas to learn from some of the best in the industry.
“I was recently selected to receive an Air New Zealand Dream Seat and personal mentorship with chef Josh Emett. This is a very exciting career opportunity for me to go work as a chef in Japan with my flights sponsored and Josh’s help.”
Opportunities to shape her skills
Alyx says AUT was an obvious choice for her when she decided to study culinary arts at university.
“I was drawn by the great chef lecturers and the opportunities AUT offered within culinary arts, including the Winter Series, the competitions, the young chefs’ club and the many networking opportunities. AUT is also one of the few universities to offer culinary arts as part of a Bachelor of Arts rather than only in a diploma or certificate.
“I really enjoyed the practical classes like the courses Anatomy of a Dish and Contemporary Cuisine where I got to learn modern cooking techniques including spherification, sous vide, and making gels and foams. It was fun learning different plating and preparation techniques that I wouldn’t have thought about. I also enjoyed the course Professional Wine Studies, and learning how to properly taste and pair wine with food.”
She also enjoyed showcasing her culinary arts skills while competing against other students in the NZ Chefs Association Te Pūkenga Secondary and Tertiary Training Hospitality Competition, and the North Island regionals for the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Award competition.
“I was absolutely stoked about the opportunity to train as part of a competition squad under chef Geoff Scott. The experience immensely shaped my skills, and I learned so much from Geoff and the other chefs that helped us get competition ready. Their support helped me earn two gold medals in my first competition and a silver medal in my second competition. It was such a cool event that I learned so much from.”
Advice for other students
Alyx has some great advice for other students.
“Take every opportunity that comes up. The opportunities and events that AUT offers will help you further your knowledge, be useful for your courses and grow your network. I really enjoyed that there was always something happening at AUT. There was always an event or programme going on that you can be a part of and add to your uni experience to meet more people and learn new skills.”
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, she adds.
“Discuss any issues you run into with your lecturers – they want to help you and have a wealth of knowledge. I’m a competitive pool player and often travelled during the university year to competitions, which could add some stress to my assignments. My lecturers were so supportive. They helped me stay on track and answered all my questions. They want students to do well and will support you to get the best grade possible.”
