Amanda Linklater

Amanda Linklater began her hospitality career working in a Four Square in the small town of Palmerston, East Otago, where she grew up, and then progressed into cafeteria work. It was a job a lot of young kiwis undertake while studying at high school, but for Amanda the experience triggered something more. Now a student of hospitality management at Otago Polytechnic, Amanda is turning the art of table-setting, cocktail-making and food and beverage service into an career pathway that is already taking her places.

"I've worked in hospitality since I was young and I just love it. It's always changing and is a fun job. Sure, it's hard work, but it's also rewarding. I love the programme at the Polytechnic, because I've never really been a book person; I learn from doing. Here you do a lot more hands-on learning – coffee-making, silver service etc."

"I originally applied to join the navy, but wasn't accepted for the position. I had thought I might try again, but now I've started entering hospitality competitions and am doing really well. I won the regional competition for food and beverage service in Invercargill earlier in the year, and was asked if I'd go to the nationals in Auckland to compete. I won two golds, one silver and one bronze medal and was placed second overall."

In the national competitions, Amanda was required to compete in four classes – table-setting, beverage and wine service, cocktails and barista. Each required strong background knowledge, a touch of invention and an absolute dedication to perfection.

"In table-setting you're given a Table D'Hote menu to set. This means getting entrée, mains, soup and dessert cutlery set out perfectly. Then you need a water glass, red wine and white wine glasses, a bud vase with floral arrangement, cruets, butter-dish, side plate and knife. You're given 30 minutes to clean the chairs and table, sweep the floor, polish the glassware, make the floral arrangement, polish the cutlery, make sure the tablecloth is placed perfectly and make a napkin fold to finish off."

For the barista competitions, Amanda invented a tamarillo and white-chocolate smoothie which received high praise, and a tea called 'Otago Sunrise' which the judges named the best of the tea inventions on the day.

When Amanda completes her National Diploma in Hospitality (Management) Level 5 in 2010 she is considering a move overseas. Fortunately the skills she is learning in Dunedin will be applicable anywhere in the world.

"After graduation I'd like to go to France and work on super-yachts where you get paid for your work and earn great tips. One day though I want to own my own hospitality business – a chain would be great! Something like Lone-Star, that's well-known all over!"