Rate My Professor Grant Hutton

Grant Hutton serves as Executive Chef at Studholme College, part of the University of Otago's Campus and Collegiate Life Services in Dunedin, New Zealand. Hailing from the Otago region, he leads a friendly foodservice team responsible for the overall planning and preparation of delicious menus served to college residents. As the designated contact for all food-related inquiries and special dietary requirements, he ensures that dining needs are met efficiently and effectively.

During the 2022 Omicron outbreak that impacted students at Studholme College, Grant Hutton demonstrated exceptional leadership and adaptability. Drawing parallels to his prior navy training in containing biological, nuclear, and chemical warfare scenarios, he implemented stringent COVID-19 precautions, remarking that the measures felt 'the same thing but not as deadly.' Overseeing a team comprising two other chefs, one front-of-house staff member, and ten student kitchen assistants—despite simultaneous illnesses among up to four assistants—he maintained daily meal services without interruption. By increasing orders of individually wrapped items such as muesli bars and drinks, he reduced contact points and redistributed workloads. Committed to self-sufficiency, he avoided drawing additional support from other colleges, emphasizing 'someone’s got to feed them.' These efforts not only sustained operations seamlessly but also strengthened team bonds, as he noted it 'brought our team closer together, but not within two metres of course.'