Celebrating Graduation Day 2020 & 2021
Midlands Culinary School Celebrates
Graduation Day
“August saw the graduation of 16 students at Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine. The occasion celebrated those who graduated last year - lockdown restrictions preventing the 2020 event – and those who graduated this year.”
Current lockdown restrictions meant the event was to be held outdoors and moods were deflated when the day dawned with rain. Spirits soon lifted when, yet again, the sun shone down on this renowned culinary school in Hilton, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.
Steve Steinfeld - a self-confessed, sabrage-obsessive, and ‘The Joburg Foodie’ to his social media followers - opened this uplifting occasion with the sabrage technique of releasing a cork from a bottle of bubbly. Mick Goss, an icon of South African’s thoroughbred racing and breeding industry, inspired the students and their parents with his words of wisdom. “In trying times there is always positivity that comes out of great entrepreneurs,” he said, leaving the young graduates to contemplate this challenging statement.
Prize winners included:
Elba Top Practical Student 2021 - Anja Dippenaar
Deltrade Top Patisserie Student 2020 - Tahila Pillay
Waterford Wine Award 2020 - Annie Morrick
Waterford Wine Award 2021 - Anja Dippenaar and Tatum McCraw.
Champagne Valley Flour Award for the Best Baker 2020 - Annie Morrick and Maganizo Penti
Champagne Valley Flour Award for the Best Baker 2021 - Tatum McCraw
These accolades highlight Chef Jackie Cameron’s philosophy that ‘hard work pays off’. Cameron, the owner of Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, has an understanding yet firm approach towards her students. Integrity, respect, loyalty, humility and kindness are the mottos by which she lives and which she imparts on her students. “Make a positive difference in others’ lives and always remember you were once a student,” she advised.
Graduating students were:
2020 - Marizen Smit, Tahila Pillay, Jessie George, Ruvarashe Matsika, Braeden Royal, Maganizo Penti, Annie Morrick.
2021 - Andisile Bam, Anja Dippenaar, Caitlin van der Velden, Keagan Hughes, Lee-Andre Fortuin, Michael Chiazzari, Tatum McCraw, Nolan Adimulam, Phumla Zakwe
Sponsors that supported this graduation included: Elba, Geochem South Africa, Champagne Valley Flour, Waterford Wine Estate, Brookdale Health Hydro, Riedel – the wine glass company, Vinimark, Wusthof Knives, Millac Gold, Culinary Equipment Company, Weber Braai SA, Homewood, Oryx Desert Salt, Wonderbag, Sunfoil, Afrikoa Chocolate, Steelite International.
Suppliers that attended the function were: Esposito Kamberg Ham, Terbodore Coffer Roasters, Kinsley’s Wholesale t/a Freshly Pick’d, La Petite France, The Gourmet Greek, Romesco Olives, Verve Water, Kleine Zalze Wines, The Blue Orange Farm.
And kudos to Pam Alty who, with her daughter Debbie, created a cake representing Wonderbag and the Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine, that was specially baked for the occasion.
Jackie Cameron School of Food & Wine offers an intensive, nationally and internationally recognised culinary course with a maximum intake of 15 students.