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Fredrick Gayle attributes
his success to WHI
Fredrick Gayle wasn’t successful in his CXC’s
examinations when he left secondary school. But his
teachers at the time assured him that he had the
potential to succeed in terms of academics. And though
he left school with no qualification in his hands to
serve as a base in acquiring gainful employment, he
didn’t give up hope. He had a dream, and so when the
opportunity presents itself he grabbed it with both
hands, thanks to Western Hospitality Institute (WHI).
Said Gayle: “I had a dream and so that’s was what keeps me going. I
wasn’t among the elites when I was at secondary school
and I letdown my teachers. I didn’t do well in my CXC’s
examination but the important thing is that I have the
academic ability. And so when the opportunity comes from
(WHI) which gave me a scholarship in 1997 to Canada to
compete in the Junior Olympic Culinary Competition I
grabbed it with both hands.”
The team, he said, returned to their homeland with 7 bronze medals from
the competition.
Soon he would study at Hocking College, a celebrated
hotel base College in the US after earning a scholarship
from (WHI.) There he spent sometime in the summer in the
year of 1997. He would then return to Jamaica as an
arrangement with the Hocking College and WHI.
He explained: “We came back to Jamaica with 7 bronze medals and I
studied in the same year of 1997 at Hocking College as a
result of a scholarship awarded from (WHI). For the
first year I went to Hocking College and then came back
to study with WHI. This is because persons have to begin
their study at WHI and then go to the Hocking College to
complete the degree.”
While at WHI, Gayle related that his experience there
was good and rewarding.
“While at WHI the experience was good and stimulating. “While there my
major was culinary art but I had to study courses
outside of my specialization,” he told the Western
Mirror.
WHI, he said, is the best Institute in the area of hotel
related courses. This, as WHI is in a sense a sister
property to Hocking College in the US which is known to
be the hottest brand in the offerings of accredited and
first rate programmes that are highly recognized both in
the Caribbean and internationally particularly in the
US. Hotel managers in Jamaica give priority to persons
who study at Hocking College over those who study at the
University of the West Indies.
“Persons wishing to study are not required to have O’ levels or A’
levels to study at WHI. Once you have the academic
ability you’re good to go. There are many persons who
attended WHI who hold managerial and executive positions
in the hotels both here and abroad and in some cases
alongside those who had gone to top universities. Also
persons who study with WHI immediately get the edge over
those who study at top universities and this is a known
fact and persons can check it out themselves. WHI is
doing wonders for Jamaica and the hotel industry
itself,” assured Gayle
A former student of Frome secondary School now (Frome Technical High),
Gayle was landed at the Hyatt’s Hotel in the US where he
spent over three years as Chef of the Cuisine.
“I was the chef in charge of the restaurant and opened
one of the first finest fine dining restaurants for the
Hyatt’s hotel brand. The hotel has 630 rooms and it was
a great experience as I brought with me the Caribbean
flare and knowledge as well. I was prepared for the job
as at Hocking College they have their own hotel where
practical knowledge is mandatory and this is why persons
who study at Hocking College are more rounded. So with
the knowledge in relation to the aspect of management I
had practical experience as well and a degree. There I
was offered an executive chef job and I excelled. I was
the chef for one of the top restaurants at the time,”
informed Gayle.
Later Gayle decided to return to Jamaica to give back to the hotel
industry and by virtue the tourism product here. And
it’s not surprising that he took up the position of
executive sue chef at the esteem Half Moon Hotel. He was
the first black chef to fill that position. He further
promoted to executive chef there. Gayle perhaps wanted
to add value or make his mark elsewhere and this move
landed him at another top hotel the Ritz Carlton as
restaurant chef.
Now the executive chef at the Coyaba Hotel, Gayle is angling to make an
indelible mark there as well.
“Coyaba is luxury small resort which is ranked with Half Moon Hotel,
Round Hill and the Royal Plantation and Jamaica Inn and
is on par with the Ritz Carlton. The best I can do is to
continue to create and improve the food at Coyaba and
let it remain on the cutting edge of things and thus
exceed the expectations of guests,” he said
Ian Croll
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