Rising Star Chris is a Cut Above the Rest

17 year old Chris Malone from Innaloo took out the Apprentice Rising Star* award at the 2013 West Coast Institute Awards Evening for his enthusiasm and commitment towards becoming a chef.
Chris was a straight-A high school student who was discouraged to leave school by his teachers to start a cookery apprenticeship. Against their advice, Chris left school to follow his dream and since then, he hasn’t looked back.
“I didn’t mind school, but at 15 I was determined and ready to hit the workforce,” said Chris. “I knew what I wanted to do, so taking up an apprenticeship through West Coast’s Academy of Hospitality and Culinary Arts was an ideal solution for me.”
Upon leaving school, Chris tried his luck at securing a commercial cookery apprenticeship with one of Perth’s finest, Frasers Restaurant. Due to his enthusiastic attitude and drive to learn and work hard, Chris was offered the apprenticeship.
“At the start of my apprenticeship, I had to peel prawns, cut vegetables and remove ink pouches from squid for my entire shift,” laughed Chris. “Now I get to help and train some of the younger apprentices at Fraser’s and I love what I do.”
Chris has competed in both local and overseas cooking competitions. In 2012, he visited Taiwan to complete in the International Pork Knuckle Competition, where he and his cooking partner (Academy lecturer Jason Smith) won the gold medal. Just recently Chris competed in “WA Oceanafest”*, taking out two silver and one bronze medal.
Chris says studying at the Academy has been a life changing experience: “I’ve got to see and do things beyond on my wildest dreams and my confidence has grown so much. I am happier now than I ever was at school.”
West Coast Academy of Hospitality and Culinary Arts Executive Director Patrick O’Brien is proud of Chris’s achievements: “Chris’s efforts show just what can be achieved if you are driven and work hard. At 17, Chris is working with some of the best Chefs in Perth and is building himself a successful and secure career within the culinary industry.”
Once qualified, Chris wants to travel the world, particularly the United States and Europe. Along his travels Chris hopes to have the opportunity to work at world famous restaurant The Fat Duck in the United Kingdom.
*West Coast Institute’s Awards Evening was held at the Institute’s Joondalup Campus on Friday 19 April where 30 of its best students, trainers and support staff were recognised with a variety of awards.
*WA Oceanafest took place from 14-16 April 2013 at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre. Run by the Australian Culinary Federation, it is a competition to assess the culinary skills and abilities of chefs, cooks, pastry chefs and apprentices from various industries around the world.