Part I Pushing the Pastry Envelope with Aussie Chef Gunawan

Send us Fan Mail**Introduction:**- Meet Australian Chef, Instructor, and Pastry Artist, Gunawan, takes us through his incredible culinary odyssey from Indonesia to France.**Overview of Gunawan's Background:**- Gunawan's upbringing in Indonesia amidst diverse spices and flavors shaped his palate.- Despite being forbidden from the kitchen as a boy, his family's rich culinary traditions influenced his love for food.- He embarked on a culinary adventure upon joining cooking school in Malaysia, where he learned the basics, including how to turn on a stove!**Discovering the Culinary World:**- Initially inclined towards arts, Gunawan's pursuit of a multimedia design career shifted to hospitality due to family influence.- His first kitchen experiences were comical, seeking assistance to operate a stove and learning cooking basics in a foreign land.- Despite early challenges, Gunawan's passion for interacting with customers sparked his interest in front-of-house roles.**Transitioning to the Kitchen:**- Initially drawn to front-of-house roles, Gunawan unexpectedly found himself compelled towards the kitchen due to academic pressures.- Starting as a Comi, he volunteered to learn and eventually thrived in the kitchen environment, discovering a penchant for pastry arts.**Diving into Pastry Arts:**- Enrolling in Hospitality Management further fueled Gunawan's journey, especially when he discovered the artistry in pastry.- His transition to Le Cordon Bleu in France was a pivotal moment that honed his skills and passion for crafting desserts.**Entering Competitions and Innovating:**- Gunawan's entry into competitions, like the Asia Pastry Cup, marked a turning point in his career.- The creation of the Tomyum Macaroon showcased his unique approach—merging savory elements with desserts—an idea that initially faced skepticism but eventually impressed judges.**The Essence of Competing:**- Gunawan's view on competitions as a learning experience rather than just a win or loss, highlighting the importance of self-improvement.- His bronze win in the competition validated his innovative approach and spurred him to explore more unique flavor combinations.**Conclusion:**- Recap of Gunawan's journey from forbidden kitchen access in Indonesia to a pioneering pastry artist in Australia.- Highlighting his persistence, innovation, and passion for culinary arts despite early setbacks.**Closing Thoughts:**- Tune in to Part 2 to explore Gunawan's continuing journey,  where Gunawan delves into his remarkable career progression post-competition wins, becoming a renowned chef, instructor, and brand ambassador.Connect to our guest: GUNAWAN (@awi_wu) (https://www.instagram.com/awi_wu/)Instagram Season2 Welcome Chef Steven Leung as our new cohost.IG: themindfulwok Support the showYour support and contributions are vital in sustaining and expanding The Voice4Chefs podcast.Become a monthly supporter:https://www.buzzsprout.com/1432717/supportYour donations aid in amplifying the voices of chefs globally. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voice4chefs?locale.x=en_USShare your thoughts! Leave a comment or 5 star review.https://www.voice4chefs.com/reviews/new/Volunteer contact [email protected] with our Culinary Stories:https://linktr.ee/voice4chef