Cooking up a storm for cyclone relief

In the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, Kiwis around the country have been finding different, often inventive ways to help those affected.

For new MIT Chef Lecturer Tamara Johnson it meant giving back at a cooking day in the kitchen of Thermomix Head Office in Mt Wellington.

“It was the least we could do,” she says. “In times of crisis you have to do what you can.”

Over seven hours, the crew made up of the company’s customers and staff made more than 400 food parcels to be delivered to West Aucklanders in need following recent flooding and landslips.

Dishes prepared had to be tasty, nutritious and easy to reheat. They included lasagna, butter chicken, tortilla stacks, pasta dishes, pumpkin soup as well as vegetarian options.

“Anything we can do to help,” Ms Johnson says. “It’s just a matter of grabbing a good quality recipe and giving it a good cook. We had the resources.”

MIT School of Hospitality is delighted to have Tamara joining our team. Not only is she connected to industry as a Team Leader for Thermomix, the chef has worked in top kitchens here and overseas including Michelin-starred restaurants in Edinburgh and Stockholm.

“It’s really promising to have someone with Tamara’s experience and energy passing on her knowledge to students,” say Head of School Ryan Hollis. “She will be looking after our new Level 4 Cookery students. This is a vitally important role and I have full confidence Tamara will ignite the fire in each of her learners.”

Her varied career has also included roles as a food producer for reality shows such as My Kitchen Rules and Master Chef.

“The places hospitality can take you are amazing,” Tamara says. “I remember sitting in class when I was 14, living in Whangaparāoa and my cookery teacher said she’d worked as a chef for the Queen. You can go anywhere with this and make of it what you want. I’m looking forward to giving back what I have learned to students.”

Tamara says the cook won’t be the last with the planning for further events underway to help the recovery in Tairawhiti and Hawkes Bay, as well as a developing relationship with that Pātaka Kai Movement which allows people to give and receive food donations through street-based pantries.