International Culinary Studio

🌟 We have been nominated! 🌟

We are honoured to announce that International Culinary Studio has been nominated for Oceania's Best Culinary Training Institution 2026 at the World Culinary Awards.

For more than a decade, our mission has been simple. To make high quality culinary education accessible to aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals around the world. This nomination reflects the dedication, talent and passion of our entire community.

To every student who has enrolled with us, every graduate making an impact in kitchens across the globe, and every member of our incredible staff, thank you. Your commitment inspires us every day and this recognition belongs to all of you.

We would also like to sincerely thank the World Culinary Awards for this prestigious nomination. It is a privilege to be recognised among the leading culinary education providers in Oceania.

If International Culinary Studio has helped shape your culinary journey, we would be incredibly grateful for your vote.

🗳️ Vote here:
https://worldculinaryawards.com/award/oceania-best-culinary-training-institution/2026

Thank you for supporting us!

A few photos of our Directors attending the 2016 Hospitality New Zealand Awards Ceremony in Rotorua, New Zealand. International Culinary Studio were proud sponsors of the Chef of the Year Competition.

Worldchefs - World Association of Chefs Societies

NZChefs Association

Excellent to see our Chef Steve joining the Worldchefs judges to judge this weeks, Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat competition held at Ara.Christchurch, New Zealand.


NZChefs Association
Worldchefs - World Association of Chefs Societies
Nestlé Professional NZ

Matariki is here and the whole team at International Culinary Studio came together to celebrate! ✨

Matariki marks the Māori New Year, signalled by the rise of the Matariki star cluster in our winter skies. It's a time to reflect on the year that has passed, remember those we've lost, celebrate the present, and look ahead with hope for the year to come.

As a national holiday, it's become one of the most meaningful moments in Aotearoa's calendar, and one that brings whānau, friends, and communities together.

Our team had the best time marking the occasion, sharing kai, stories, and plenty of laughter.

A special thank you to Cheryl and Andy for gifting us this beautiful porcelain piece by celebrated New Zealand artist Jo Luping, whose Māori inspired work captures the spirit of the season so perfectly. We're truly grateful. 🤍

To help you celebrate at home, we've put together a traditional Fry Bread recipe you can download and cook up over the weekend.

Grab it here 👉 https://www.internationalculinarystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Fry_Bread_Recipe_2026.pdf

Mānawatia a Matariki! How is your whānau celebrating this year?

Last night, the global culinary landscape shifted. With the launch of the inaugural Michelin Guide for New Zealand, our local food scene didn't just step onto the world stage, it commanded it.

When you break down the numbers, New Zealand’s 15 starred establishments give us a density of 2.83 Michelin restaurants per million people.

To put that into perspective against global heavyweights:

We have officially debuted at #14 in the world for Michelin restaurant density.

We sit right on the heels of the United Kingdom (2.85 per million).

The United States has 271 Michelin-starred restaurants, but with their massive population, their density sits at 0.83 per million. That means NZ has nearly 3.5x the concentration of world-class dining spots than the US right out of the gate!

For an inaugural guide that only focused on a few regional pockets (with Central Otago’s Essence pulling an incredible two stars!), this is an extraordinary testament to the caliber of talent, innovation, and produce in our country.

At International Culinary Studio, we are thrilled to see our industry recognized at this level. For our students, this is proof that the standards you are learning today are exactly what the world’s toughest critics are looking for. The future of NZ hospitality has never looked brighter. 👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

What an incredible time the International Culinary Studio team had at the Hospitality NZ Conference 2026! 🗺️✨

Cheryl, Andy, Bryan and Nathan spent an unforgettable few days connecting with passionate industry leaders, catching up with familiar faces, and diving deep into the future of hospitality. We are coming home bursting with fresh ideas and inspiration that will directly shape how we train and support the next generation of culinary talent.

A massive standout for us was hearing from the brilliant Preston Lee. His sessions really hit home and gave us some profound insights that we can’t wait to implement.

The future of our industry is bright, and we are so excited to be a part of it! 🍽️🚀

Who else is going to be watching this evening?

Tonight, New Zealand's hospitality industry takes another step onto the world stage as the inaugural MICHELIN Guide Ceremony celebrates the restaurants, chefs and hospitality professionals shaping Aotearoa's vibrant food culture.

The arrival of the MICHELIN Guide is more than just stars. It's recognition that New Zealand's exceptional produce, culinary talent and unique dining experiences are worthy of a special journey. It shines a global spotlight on our industry, celebrating excellence, creativity, sustainability and innovation across every style of dining.

Here's what the different MICHELIN distinctions represent:

MICHELIN Star – Awarded for exceptional cooking, recognising quality ingredients, mastery of technique, harmony of flavours, the chef's personality expressed through their cuisine, and consistency.

Bib Gourmand – Celebrates restaurants offering outstanding food at great value.

MICHELIN Selected – Recognises restaurants that have impressed inspectors with the quality of their food and dining experience.

Green Star – Honours restaurants demonstrating a strong commitment to sustainable gastronomy.

While only a select few will receive these distinctions tonight, the impact reaches far beyond those recognised. This is a milestone for New Zealand hospitality—creating opportunities to showcase our unique food story, attract culinary visitors from around the world, and continue raising standards across the industry.

Best of luck to everyone involved. We look forward to celebrating this exciting moment for Aotearoa hospitality.

The ceremony will be livestreamed globally via the MICHELIN Guide’s official YouTube channel.

Great start to the conference with Chef Andy presenting the Chef of the Year award last night. Day 2 is sure to be packed with much more excitement!