Newsletter March
Success Story: Kira & Michel
Graduate of Haaga-Helia (Finland), Kira Weckman participated to the Finnish Top Chef 2013.
She became the first woman to win. During the competition, she got very positive feedback
on her excellent tasting capacity and her attitude in demanding challenges; skills that she
probably improved during her stay at Institut Paul Bocuse in 2010. Whilst participating to the
Worldwide Alliance student session, Kira met Michel Garzon graduate of Instituto Mariano
Moreno (Colombia). They both enrolled in the program to learn French gastronomy, acquire
news skills and discover worldwide cultures. Today, they share more than passion for cuisine.
Following these four months at Institut Paul Bocuse, Kira and Michel decided to combine their passion
for cuisine, their two food cultures and technics to launch a common business. They found their own
company called KW catering & consulting, which offers catering, private cooking lessons and provides
consultation on food and products in Helsinki, Finland.
Last summer, they wrote and published a cookbook called Latino Makuja (Latin Flavors). They present
South American food, especially their favorite Latin recipes. Recipes are both in Finnish and English.
On the personal side, Kira and Mychel got married and have a one-year-old little girl named Gabriela.
Huge congratulations to them!
3 questions to them…
What did the Summer Program of the Alliance bring and give you?
K. It was a great opportunity to improve my professional skills and get to know cooking methods and
ingredients that I otherwise wouldn’t have got familiar with. The program was also life changing on the
personal level, since I got many friends worldwide and I found my husband Mychel there, with whom we
have a company and family nowadays.
M. The Summer Program gave me the chance to learn French and English, along with French gastronomy.
I also got the chance to see the world from another perspective. I learned new techniques, ingredients and
cooking methods that helped me to improve my cooking skills. My best souvenir will be the friendship with
amazing people from all around the world, and my wife Kira of course.
In few words, how would you summarize this culinary experience?
K. Life-changing – Amazing – Unforgettable
M. Unforgettable and one of the kinds!
In one word, how would define the Institut Paul Bocuse Worldwide Alliance?
K. Unique
M. Excellence