Alyx Jones

3rd-year student, 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 is currently completing 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. In the future, I’d like to work either as a private chef or start a food business. 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.”

She 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.”

Opportunities to shape her skills
Alyx says the practical aspects of her studies are what she has enjoyed most about her time at AUT.

“I’ve 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 has 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
With only one more semester of her studies to go, 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’ve really enjoyed that there’s always something happening at AUT. There’s 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 travel during the year to competitions, which can add some stress to my assignments. My lecturers have been so supportive. They’ve 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.”