CANTERBURY EMPLOYEE STRIVING FOR HOSPITALITY GOLD
A chance conversation with his teacher has put young Roselands local, Daniel Sozou, in the running to represent Australia in the 2017 World Skills Restaurant Service Competition.
Daniel recently came second in the regional stage of the completion after impressing judges with his showmanship and technique in table and wine service, cocktail service, food handling and customer experience service.
“I was at TAFE one day and my teacher asked me if I was entering [the competition] – I told him I didn’t think I was because I wasn’t good enough. He encouraged me to enter and I ended up coming second in regionals by 0.125 of a mark,” said Daniel.
“The judges look for how calm you are, your food hygiene and presentation of everything. They look at how steady your hands are and how you shake, muddle and stir your cocktails. The main thing they look for in everything is consistency – from your wine pouring to the table setting of knives and forks, down to if the wine and water glasses match up.”
Daniel is currently training two to three times a week at Ryde TAFE College in the lead up to the national level of the World Skills competition which will be held in Melbourne in October this year. The three-day event will test his skills in Fine Dining, Casual Dining and Bar work.
“My trainers are Ivan Novak and Kate Crocker and they are amazing teachers. Ivan has had over 55 years in the industry and was recently awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his outstanding service to teaching in hospitality. Kate is the 2011 World Skills Competition Silver Medallist which was held in London,” said Daniel.
Asides from his training sessions with his teachers, he is also brushing up his silver service skills at Canterbury League Club’s Flame Pizza + Grill restaurant where he works as a Food and Beverage Attendant.
“We are very proud of Daniel and his dedication to his training; he has been a wonderful addition to our Food and Beverage team and has a great personality. It is an exciting time for him right now and we wish him the best of luck at the World Skills competition,” said Dave Brace, CEO of Canterbury League Club.
