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.
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.
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.
