Apprentice chef Mika Brand is excited to serve up delicacies in a revamped Davidson Restaurant at The Gordon next year following a $23.5 million upgrade.
“Having an updated Davidson Restaurant will be amazing to train in,” the 19-year-old said.
“We’ll be able to make and present very nice food.”
The second-year apprentice from Ocean Grove, currently studying certificate III in commercial cookery at The Gordon TAFE, described the existing restaurant as “a little bit outdated”.
“It wasn’t the nicest restaurant to sit in and eat – it was quite dark and dull,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful open area but it wasn’t being used to its capacity.”
Recently state government announced $13.5 million to create “cutting-edge” training kitchens, a bakery facility, barista academy and café, and an al fresco dining area.
The Gordon contributed $10 million to the project, to be undertaken in stages to minimise disruption to students at its central Geelong campus.
The TAFE institute’s training facility, the Davidson Restaurant, will also be renovated in the project.
Mika hopes to build on her cooking skills when the upgraded restaurant and training facilities reopen next year.
“I really enjoy serving customers beautiful food,” she said.
“It’s going to be really good to use the new facilities next year.”
The project will create 400 jobs during construction, with 70 per cent allocated to regional Victorians, according to state government.
“TAFE is a ticket to skills, jobs and a stronger Victoria – which is why we’ve invested in this state-of-the-art facility at The Gordon,” Training, Skills and Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney said.
