Part I Pushing the Pastry Envelope with Aussie Chef Gunawan

The Voice4Chefs Podcast

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**Introduction:**
- Meet Australian Chef, Instructor, and Pastry Artist, Gunawan, takes us through his incredible culinary odyssey from Indonesia to France.
**Overview of Gunawan's Background:**
- Gunawan's upbringing in Indonesia amidst diverse spices and flavors shaped his palate.
- Despite being forbidden from the kitchen as a boy, his family's rich culinary traditions influenced his love for food.
- He embarked on a culinary adventure upon joining cooking school in Malaysia, where he learned the basics, including how to turn on a stove!
**Discovering the Culinary World:**
- Initially inclined towards arts, Gunawan's pursuit of a multimedia design career shifted to hospitality due to family influence.
- His first kitchen experiences were comical, seeking assistance to operate a stove and learning cooking basics in a foreign land.
- Despite early challenges, Gunawan's passion for interacting with customers sparked his interest in front-of-house roles.
**Transitioning to the Kitchen:**
- Initially drawn to front-of-house roles, Gunawan unexpectedly found himself compelled towards the kitchen due to academic pressures.
- Starting as a Comi, he volunteered to learn and eventually thrived in the kitchen environment, discovering a penchant for pastry arts.
**Diving into Pastry Arts:**
- Enrolling in Hospitality Management further fueled Gunawan's journey, especially when he discovered the artistry in pastry.
- His transition to Le Cordon Bleu in France was a pivotal moment that honed his skills and passion for crafting desserts.
**Entering Competitions and Innovating:**
- Gunawan's entry into competitions, like the Asia Pastry Cup, marked a turning point in his career.
- The creation of the Tomyum Macaroon showcased his unique approach—merging savory elements with desserts—an idea that initially faced skepticism but eventually impressed judges.
**The Essence of Competing:**
- Gunawan's view on competitions as a learning experience rather than just a win or loss, highlighting the importance of self-improvement.
- His bronze win in the competition validated his innovative approach and spurred him to explore more unique flavor combinations.
**Conclusion:**
- Recap of Gunawan's journey from forbidden kitchen access in Indonesia to a pioneering pastry artist in Australia.
- Highlighting his persistence, innovation, and passion for culinary arts despite early setbacks.
**Closing Thoughts:**
- Tune in to Part 2 to explore Gunawan's continuing journey, where Gunawan delves into his remarkable career progression post-competition wins, becoming a renowned chef, instructor, and brand ambassador.
Connect to our guest: GUNAWAN (@awi_wu) (https://www.instagram.com/awi_wu/)Instagram
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