Soaking up the Culture with a spot of Cooking

A native of Brazil has found the best way to soak up a bit of Northern Ireland culture – and ‘the craic’ - has been to take on a cookery course at her local college of further education.

Johana Muneton (36), who settled locally after meeting her Downpatrick boyfriend whilst climbing in Spain explains, “I kept seeing signs for the open days and as I like to keep busy, learning something new and being able to cook better appealed to me, so I came along and enrolled in the Level 2 Professional Cookery at South Eastern Regional College (SERC).”

She added, “I was doing the course one day a week - for my own interests - on my day off.   I have loved learning about the different foods and flavours over the past year.  There is a professional kitchen with all the equipment and all the ingredients you need to produce food at a high standard. The opportunity to study locally was great value and the facilities were amazing. I would encourage everyone to take advantage of what is on offer in the College.”

“One of the best things about coming to SERC, as they say here, was ‘the craic’ and it was great to meet local people such as fellow students, technicians, and lecturing staff, in their own environment.”

The young woman, who previously worked in finance and international relations, and who has a master’s in Latin American Studies and Migration, has changed career and currently works in signwriting and gilding. She is heading off to London for the summer to work with her mentor at Perry Signs London, decorative artists and craftsmen famed for traditional London pub signage and glass work, who have completed works for prestigious clients such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Christian Dior.

Johana, concluded, “I have been looking at other courses you can do at the College from joinery to beauty, it is fantastic! It is a great way to pick up skills, qualifications and self-develop for your own interests."

If you're interested in learning more about the Level 2 Professional Cookeryor other part-time courses, come along to SERC on Wednesday 7 June between 5pm and 8pm at the College’s Bangor, Downpatrick, Lisburn, Newtownards or Newcastle Campus for our Adult Education Open Evening.