With state government funding, Julian and his staff have been able to utilise the fully licensed restaurant on campus to provide training for students to not only learn the art of preparing and cooking meals but also to tastefully present the finished dishes.
Using the restaurant as a model, and with the method commonly referred to as applied learning, Julian is able to demonstrate to students how to own and operate a restaurant as a successful business, and to acquire other essential skills necessary to prosper in the hospitality industry.
While Loftus TAFE remains primarily a facility for students to learn and obtain certificates and diplomas, the restaurant is a stand-alone business open to the public and requires a paying clientele for it to remain operational.
Julian has ensured throughout his 12 years that the restaurant provides top quality meals and excellent service which is why many customers have been coming to the restaurant on a regular basis for years. “Many of our customers have been coming since the restaurant first opened and have now become family friends,” he says.
“My staff have a passion for service and combined with the enthusiasm that my students show, they not only keep me and the customers young at heart, but they keep the regulars coming back too.”
Julian says that he has always treated his students as his customers and has tried to ensure that they enjoy learning great skills. He says that he has never really had to look, find or develop new ideas as he has felt that food, culture and society are constantly evolving, bringing their own exciting innovations while always retaining the traditional favourites.
In the future he would ideally like to see free training and free food with unlimited bookings, but jokingly adds that for now they will stick to providing 3-course value lunches for $23.00.
On weekends Julian loves to embrace what the Shire has to offer and believes we have so many leisure choices. A resident for 22 years, Julian loves fishing, cruising Port Hacking, taking a bush walk in the Royal National Park or simply spending a day at the beach. He loves his garden where he grows vegetables and grape vines and even though he thoroughly enjoys teaching and the restaurant, his home will always be his number one spot.
Gatewood Training Restaurant
Loftus TAFE
Pitt Street
Loftus
Ph: 9710 5800 | 
