North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Chance encounter a dream come true
Cormac Patterson is a young man who knows where he wants to be: in the kitchen.
The aspiring chef has spent most of the summer honing his skills - and not just in any restaurant either.
Since mid-December 2016, the Greenhithe teen has been learning the culinary ropes in Ben Bayly’s new restaurant The Grounds. Cormac’s meeting with the award-winning chef and My Kitchen Rules New Zealand host came about by chance.
It turned out they both go to the same orthopaedic surgeon Bayly for his shoulder and Cormac for spina bifida. When the surgeon found out Cormac was interested in working with food, he offered to put them in touch.
Cormac says he didn’t expect for things to progress further than just a meeting but Bayly offered him the chance to come in and do work experience, knowing the spacious kitchen would also allow Cormac room to move about easily in a wheelchair.
The Westlake Boys’ student says he jumped at the opportunity to work under ‘‘probably the best chef in New Zealand’’.
As The Grounds is part of the new Whoa! Studios complex in Henderson, it also meant there was a prop workshop on hand to make a workbench to order.
The bench is made up of a steel table base with a plywood top, specially cut with a half-circle so Cormac can pull into it.
He stores his knives and ingredients in low-lying fridges, easily reached from sitting position.
Bayly says Cormac’s been doing typical tasks beginning chefs entering the kitchen learn, such as preparation, knife skills and plating.
All experience which, Bayly says, with his determined attitude, will stand him in good stead.
While itching to get back to his regular kitchen spot, Cormac is now off participating in the Halberg Outward Bound Activate Course for other teens with physical disabilities from February 3-10 in the Marlborough Sounds. A former wheelchair basketball and tennis player, he says he was looking forward to meeting other teens and getting into the outdoor activities. After school, the year 12 says he hopes to enroll at culinary school.
‘‘It’s high pressure but it’s so enjoyable. There’s no boring moment in the kitchen at all.’’