Jasbir Kaur
Jazzing it up in the kitchen
When students take a culinary class with Jasbir Kaur, they’ll open a door to a whole new world of flavours.
That’s because the well-travelled professional has worked in some of the best establishments around the globe, adding more than a few feathers to her chef’s hat. The affectionately-known Jaz first began her foray into the world of gastronomy at the tender age of 16 after being encouraged by her father to turn her love for cooking into a career. After graduating from the University of Huddersfield in England’s West Yorkshire, she began to hone her skills on the hotel circuit in Wales and began rapidly moving up the ranks.
Craving for more, soon other opportunities beckoned and Jaz moved to the United States where she became the corporate executive chef for the Marriott chain, moving between South Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Another top job in Miami followed, along with many high profile judging and hosting gigs as well as multiple industry awards.
A shift in her personal life led Jaz to New Zealand where she began to actively pursue a career in culinary education. Today, Jaz is the culinary campus manager for the New Zealand Management Academy (NZMA) and has featured on television, including TVNZ’s Good Morning show and Neighbourhood. And she still finds the time to inspire students, whether it’s aspiring professionals, amateur cooks, or home entertainers through her classes at Selwyn Community Education. With French cuisine and flair at the heart of her cooking, Jaz enjoys teaching people skills to impress. “I like the precision of French fare; I like everything to be perfect. And in fine dining everything is petite but flavourful.” Always on the lookout for new and exciting food trends, Jaz often travels to top dining destinations; last year was Dubai and this year, she hopes to pick up some tips from a Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain.
