Graduate Creates Junior Masterchef Rotorua to Inspire Healthier Kids

Toi Ohomai graduate Deepak (Deep) Kumar has been on a crusade to inspire kiwi kids to be healthier since graduating from our Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Management in 2012.

Having worked at a variety of pubs and restaurants during his time as a student, Deep now co-owns Giovanni’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria. With the business a tasty success, he has also used it as a base to spread the word about healthy eating to the next generation, including creating the upcoming kids cook-off competition, Junior Masterchef Rotorua. 

“I have been running my campaign against obesity in New Zealand for the past four years,” says Deep.

“I have done hundreds of cooking demonstrations in schools and the community. As we don't have kids cooking shows in New Zealand, I thought of starting Junior Masterchef Rotorua in order to encourage kids to cook, learn and be healthy!”

Having enrolled at Toi Ohomai in order to find the right platform with which to expose his own life-long passion for cooking, Deep says his studies polished his skillset and allowed him to meet amazing tutors and great friends in the process.

“To now be chef and co-owner of Giovanni’s is awesome. It is a new experience, but I am loving it.”

Set to be held at Toi Ohomai’s Rotorua Campus from the 30th of March to the 1st of April 2018, Junior Masterchef Rotorua offers nine to fifteen-year-old kiwis the ability to showcase their culinary skills, and potentially walk away with $2,000 in prize money.

“Kids can cook better than their parents, they have just learnt it from books or TV.

“Junior Masterchef Rotorua will give those who apply the experience of working in a professional kitchen and the fun of tackling mystery box challenges, while showing our community how creative budding future chefs can be!”

Proud of the support he has received so far from the community and organisations like Bidfood Limited, The Lakeland Queen and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Deep is sure his mini master chef event will be a 5-star success.

“Registrations are still open at www.junior-masterchef-rotorua.com or at Giovanni’s until the 28th of February. Hundreds of kids signed up in just the first few days, so it will be a great show.”

Tickets for the Junior Masterchef Rotorua finale are also on sale from Giovanni’s for $15 each.