Bold Foundation Behind the Scenes: Daring to Deliver Excellence Every Day
At the QEII Centre, bold experiences aren’t just created in the meeting rooms and event spaces; they also take place in the kitchen. Every day, our chefs combine creativity, skill, and teamwork to deliver dishes that surprise and delight our guests.
One of those chefs is Chatelle Quevedo, whose energy and passion helps keep the kitchen buzzing from early morning prep through to the last service of the day. We caught up with Chatelle to hear more about life behind the pass, the challenges of catering at scale, and the pride that comes with feeding thousands of guests each year.
What’s your typical day like at the QEII Centre kitchen?
“It’s always buzzing in a good way! Everyone is a family, it gets busy and can be stressful but we’re all here for each other. Our day kicks off bright and early so we can get ahead of the game and be ready for the day ahead. We start putting together the cold options for the days conference, everything is made fresh here so any ingredients that need to be cooked are started first and then we start to put together the days dishes.”
How do you plan and prepare for catering at large-scale events?
“Planning is everything! We get the event details a week in advance to review the week prior so we can check and plan ahead. It’s not just about the cooking but also working with our amazing Front of House team also to make sure the right food gets to the right floor at the right time! “
What’s the most challenging part of cooking for big events?
“There is a lot of multi-tasking! With so many dishes – sometimes up to 10 different salads alone – and up to 1,500 guests to feed there is a lot going on. Everything has to be spot-on, the same recipe created to the same spec with correct presentation. It is a challenge but a good one!”
What do you love most about working at the QEII Centre?
“The people! I have worked with Danilo (our amazing Exec Chef), Alessandro (our brilliant Head Chef) and Paulo (our fantastic Head of Pastry) for a number of years but it’s been great getting to make new connections as well with the rest of the team, we’re a close group.”
How do you tailor menus for different events?
“This is where Danilo comes in! He creates all the incredible dishes and detailed specs and we follow them closely to make sure event has a the highest quality food – delicious and beautifully presented. He also accepts our input and adapts which is appreciated.”
Can you share an example of a bold menu or dish you created for an event?
“For the Chefs Table event back in April I created a special amuse bouche to be served at the arrival reception before they went on to enjoy their Michelin Starred menus.”
How do you make catering feel like a key part of the event experience?
“I put my heart into this job and love what I do, if you do your best and create great food the client will be happy!”
From feeding thousands of conference delegates to designing bold, creative dishes for special occasions, our chefs are central to the QEII Centre experience. Their passion, teamwork, and commitment ensure that catering is not just a service, it’s an unforgettable part of every event.