A New Zealand education opened many doors for Suvan, including the door to his own cafe

Suvan owns a thriving cafe in New Delhi specialising in European cuisine, with plans to open two more in the next few years. He’s even hoping to open a fine-dining restaurant as well — all at the age of just 27!  Suvan credits a top culinary arts school in Wellington, New Zealand for igniting his passion for food and equipping him with the hands-on training and business skills to become a successful entrepreneur. 

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It all started for Suvan when he was home in India watching MasterChef Australia. He was so inspired by the creativity and passion of the contestants that he too decided to become a chef. So, in 2015, he started looking for places to study and discovered a top culinary arts school in Wellington in New Zealand’s North Island. At the time, it was one of the few places globally offering a bachelor’s in culinary arts. 

Suvan thrived at the school describing it as the “Harvard of culinary education.” The whole experience was more than just learning how to cook; it offered a unique combination of hands-on kitchen skills and business training. Suvan gained valuable skills in restaurant and kitchen management, covering everything from cooking and wine matching to marketing, staffing, operations, and finances. 

Suvan’s classmates came from all over the world—Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and beyond—each bringing their own cultural influences and ambitions. That diversity created a rich, collaborative environment where ideas simmered, and friendships blossomed. Suvan described it as a safe and enriching learning experience. One of his biggest inspirations was David Burton, a well-known food critic and lecturer at the school, whose passion for British-Indian cuisine resonated deeply with Suvan. 

Suvan’s study experience in New Zealand laid the foundation for his dream of making it big in the culinary world. By the time he graduated in 2018, he was equipped not just with a degree, but with a vision—and a plan.  

Back home in New Delhi, he spotted a gap in the market. Most cafés, he noticed, offered average food and lacked the technical finesse he had mastered when he studied in New Zealand. He decided it was time to raise the bar. 

Suvan opened his own European-style café, where he focused on baked goods —from melt in the mouth croissants to perfectly brewed coffee. It was a cup of coffee he once had at The Hangar Cafe in Wellington, (which he describes as the best coffee he’s ever tasted) that helped shape the ethos of his café — attention to detail, passion for flavour, and a dedication to craft. 

Suvan wasn’t just cooking. He was building a brand—and a future.

One of the things Suvan loved most about studying in New Zealand was the lifestyle. Between classes, he’d take long drives through New Zealand’s stunning landscapes—a sharp contrast to the busy roads of India. He loved the feeling of freedom he got after driving for hours, surrounded by mountains and ocean. It gave him space to think, to grow, and to plan his future. 

He enjoyed making new friends and playing different sports like football, rugby and basketball. He was able to get out of his comfort zone and grow as a person in an environment away from the pressures of everyday life. 

That balance between high-quality education and life-changing experiences outside the classroom is what makes a New Zealand education so unique. You don’t just learn the skills for a great career —you discover who you are. 

New Zealand leads the world in preparing students for the future — making sure they’ve got the skills to turn what they’ve learned during study into jobs. The practical hands-on style of teaching along with learning how to problem-solve in marketing, accounting and projections gave Suvan the confidence to open his own business at such a young age. He believes that without that learning experience it would have been difficult to take that first step. 

Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and Māori food, language, and customs are very much a part of everyday life here. During his three years of study, Suvan was able to immerse himself in many cultural experiences including learning about Tikanga Māori (Māori traditions) and of course he was curious about traditional Māori food. He discovered a range of eating experiences from fine dining by top fusion Māori chefs to backyard hāngī, the traditional Māori way of cooking food underground in baskets surrounded by hot stones. 

There are thousands of popular English-taught courses to choose from in New Zealand with flexible study options such as global pathways and online courses that can help you decide not only what you want to study but also how you study. 

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While you study you can start improving your employability skills by gaining work experience, building your networks and creating an outstanding CV.  

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You'll find there are many people and organisations in New Zealand ready to help you succeed in your job search, from careers consultants at your institutions to professional groups for your industry.  

You may also get the opportunity to work part-time while you study and if you choose, full-time during holidays.  

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Your chosen career may mean studying for further qualifications like a master's degree or a PhD. New Zealand's higher education system offers a wide range of programmes and education providers to choose from, in any region of the country.  

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If you complete a qualification in an area that is skilled and in demand in New Zealand, you may be able to continue working here by applying for a different type of work visa or a skilled migrant visa. 

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