New Zealand blind chef opens gourmet pie shop

From The Rodney Times in New Zealand:

Blind baking is something Stanmore Bay’s Michael Erasmus, 22, does daily.

Michael is fully blind in one eye, and has 5 percent vision in the other.

But that hasn’t stopped him graduating from the North Shore International Academy, or opening his own gourmet pie shop in Whangaparaoa.

In April Michael was the first blind person to graduate with a Culinary Arts and Professional Cookery National Certificate from the North Shore academy.

His dream didn’t stop there.

"My dad and I heard a lot about how Georgie Pie was trying to get their licence back from McDonald’s, and how people were complaining there were no pie places around.

"That’s where the idea came from."

Michael compiled six recipes for gourmet family-sized pies and has Rodney District Council approval to open his new business in Stanmore Bay.

"I’ve always loved cooking. I loved every minute of it at the academy.

"The biggest challenge was teaching myself how to handle knives, and the visual part of food was difficult.

"I struggled to cut things in the same shape and thickness at the start, but I practised a lot and got it right in the end."

Michael has been living on the Hibiscus Coast with his family for nine years and went to KingsWay School and Orewa College.

With his first six basic recipes, Michael’s pies are 1.1kg and made from fresh ingredients, no monosodium glutamate, food colour, enhancers or preservatives.

"There’s steak and kidney, steak and mushroom, mince and cheese, smoked chicken, chicken veloute and a vegetarian pie. It’s all real food and quality is my focus," says Michael.

Businesses can call in before 10am on the day and place a bulk order for staff members to take home after they finish work. Or people can phone in to place their own order at least an hour before pick-up.