A special gathering of friends, colleagues and benefactors met at AUT’s Four Seasons Restaurant on July 27 to celebrate the School of Hospitality & Tourism’s homage to chef extraordinaire, Tony Astle and his late wife, Beth.
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Guests were escorted to the newly renamed Tony and Beth Astle Culinary Theatre, where a plaque dedicated to their contribution to the New Zealand hospitality industry, and ongoing commitment to culinary student learning, was unveiled.
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Head of School, Dr Warren Goodsir thanked Tony Astle for his generosity and dedication to the AUT School of Hospitality & Tourism, joining AUT Vice Chancellor, Damon Salesa and Dean of the Faculty of Culture and Society, Pare Keiha, in the unveiling of the plaque and presentation of a framed photograph of Tony and Beth.
Tony, who credited the success of his iconic fine dining restaurant, Antoine’s, to the skills of his late wife, announced a book is in the pipeline with Bateman Publishers, and there is a range of future initiatives for the faculty, including a possible opportunity for the students to produce, under his guidance, a range of meals from both Antoine’s classic and contemporary menus, for sale with proceeds going towards supporting culinary arts scholarships.
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