By Sara Fitzpatrick, Western Suburbs Weekly
SELF-CONFESSED chocoholic and award-winning apprentice chef Cherise Minas enjoys the sweet life.
Fascinated by the colours and creativity of desserts and the magic involved in their making – she particularly enjoys whipping up sticky banana pudding with butterscotch sauce – the 18-year-old Perth foodie has aspirations of opening her own patisserie.
But it won’t be your run-of-the-mill offering, it will be “out there” and “something no one else has.”
Considering the great strides the Wentworth Plaza Hotel apprentice is making in the industry, it’s very likely we’ll see this dream take shape.
Cherise recently took home Most Outstanding First Year Apprentice at the Hospitality Group Training annual awards.
Something of a role model – considering the skills shortage (particularly from young people) facing the hospitality industry – Cherise grew up cooking alongside her mum.
“I’ve always been around food, so choosing to become a chef wasn’t a hard decision. I knew from age 12 this is what I wanted to do,” she said.
“When I was little, mum and I spent a lot of time making samosas, spring rolls and curries; with dad being Indian/Burmese.
“Mum used to sell some of these to friends and I’d help make them. She had to let me help, or I wouldn’t shut up.”
Cherise’s favourite cake shop in Perth is Rochelle Adonis in Brisbane Street, Northbridge.
When it comes to culinary role models, innovative Aussie patissier – and regular guest on TV’s MasterChef Australia – Adriano Zumbo takes the cake.
“He’s amazing and so creative with the ideas he comes up with,” Cherise said.
The blossoming apprentice is completing her second year at the hotel, working in both restaurants; The Moon and Sixpence and The Boheme (formerly Bobby Dazzler’s).
- This is part of an occasional series profiling some of our exciting young people making their mark on the Perth food scene.