CHEF OF THE MONTH – TRENT WATSON
A Homeless Head Chef With Rock Star Connections
N
ow the self-confessed ‘homeless head chef’ of a number of five-star prime downtown Queenstown properties, Trent Watson has carved a niche for himself in a career that he’s passionate about. Officially, head chef at Queenstown’s No.5 Church Lane Restaurant in the upmarket, downtown Spire Hotel, Trent also helps oversee food at the sophisticated sister property, Eichardt’s Hotel and Bar nearby. He’s private chef on the Imperium Group’s private lake cruiser too. The group also owns The Grille by Eichardt’s where Trent is also currently acting head chef - thus his quirky title.
At 38, Trent has been a chef for 20 years, starting out as a part-time kitchen hand for his last two years at high school in hometown Hamilton. “I managed to obtain a ‘B’ Bursary and thought I’d take a year off before heading to University so I kept working,” he says. Somehow he got into the groove of hospitality’s late night hours working at The Wood Box in Hamilton, loved the people he was associating with and stayed five years. “It became my passion. I just got better at it and I’ve never been able to let go,” he says. “I loved the adrenalin rush of a busy service, having to be fast and accurate, then a few drinks after a busy night.” >>
xxx
18 MARCH 2021 - HOSPITALITY BUSINESS
“Dolly Parton is a lovely lady, one of the nicest people I’ve ever come across, super polite and humble.”
