Bermuda Sun - November 3 2006

'Cook-chef' is widely regarded as the chief morale officer
B. Candace Ray
INTERVIEW/Catering Officer Curtis Azhar
Thirty-five-year-old Bermudian Curtis Azhar serves as catering officer aboard STV Spirit of Bermuda. His job is to feed the crew, volunteers and trainees.

As a local who more easily relates to the students, "Cook-chef" as the boys dubbed him is also widely regarded as the unofficial 'chief morale officer'."When they need a little help getting motivated, I'm going to help keep them focused," Mr. Azhar said.

He is, in a sense, reliving his 19-year-old self - a similarly young student sponsored by the Bank of Bermuda on a three-month tall ship experience aboard STV Astrid.

But Spirit's catering officer also wants to give back to the community."The timing of this vessel…I think it's a beautiful thing because of what it's trying to do, to give every last student the opportunity to get ahead, to recognize that there's the opportunities out there for them if they open themselves up for it," he said. According to Mr. Azhar, the youngsters take in stride and learn responsibility and discipline from the tedious and monotonous daily need to wash up after sailors finish a meal.

"Because they're young, when you give them the opportunity to be responsible, they're receptive to it, and they take pride in it," he said.His hoped-for legacy to the Spirit trainees is to stimulate their interest in the catering field, have them understand that, as a chef, they can go anywhere in the world.