What's Cooking?

Q & A with Food Technician Ms Joanne Ramsden

Since the Food Technology kitchen opened at the start of term, Year 7 and 8 students have loved creating meals and tucking into them. Always on hand to help is Food Technician Jo Ramsden who works behind the scenes and with students during lessons to help make it all happen. 

The Dragon: Tell us a bit about your career prior to joining St George’s – we are guessing it involved food!

Ms Ramsden: I’m originally from the UK and I began my career as a development manager at Asda - a UK supermarket chain. I specialised in chilled and frozen meal solutions, working closely with marketing teams and local and international suppliers to develop innovative products tailored to customers’ needs. This role involved extensive travel and cross-cultural collaboration.

After moving to Australia 18 years ago due to my husband’s job, I started a role at Miele where I used my culinary skills to teach customers and develop recipes that showcased the brand’s high-end cooking appliances.

What was your first impression of our fabulous new Food Tech room?

It was incredible walking into our brand-new food technology kitchen. Equipped with 12 fully stocked stations, each one includes every cooking implement a student might need to develop or enhance their cooking skills. Foodie heaven!

In three words describe the Year 7 and 8 students you have taught so far.

Eager to learn!

What is the best thing about working at our city school?

Seeing how independent the students are. How confidently they navigate the city and move between the two campuses is wonderful.

What is your favourite meal to cook at home?

Mexican or Moroccan food cooked slowly in a tagine.

What is the best cuisine on the planet?

Thai - fresh and spicy flavours every time

Recipe of the Week: Quinoa Tabouleh Chicken Souvlaki