From beauty queen to queen of the kitchen, chef Kayla Williams is carving out a career she hopes will culminate in the opening of her own restaurant.

The winner of Miss Hospitality at the Miss Bermuda competition last July is preparing to host a fundraising dinner that will help her to complete her culinary education overseas.

Ms Williams has been accepted into the International Culinary Institute of Switzerland, having just graduated in Culinary Arts from Bermuda College.

To help raise funds for the course, she will lay on a three-course meal at the Bahá’í Centre on June 10 with a menu she created herself. The aspiring chef told The Royal Gazette: “The International Culinary Institute of Switzerland was my first choice culinary school and it is quite expensive so I had an idea to have a fundraiser.

“The idea came to me to do something that involves my field of study so people can really know what they are investing in. I came up with a nice menu that showcases my passion. I want people to enjoy the food and know that it was made by me with the help of my team who helped me prepare for everything.”

The menu features butternut squash soup with spiced coconut cream and home-made rolls for a starter. The main dish is chicken breast marinated with cilantro and lemon grass (or sweet and sour stuffed peppers for vegetarians) served with scalloped sweet potatoes and vegetables while dessert is a piña colada cake with coconut cream cheese.

Ms Williams says that once she has completed her studies overseas, she would like to return to Bermuda to set up a catering business and eventually her own restaurant.

“My colleague and I have already set up K and K Katering — it is really small but it will get bigger when I come back and I have more training.

“I think that is the best way to start up because then you build clients and then from there I will see about opening a restaurant.

“I’m not sure exactly what I want to set up yet — it could be fine dining or a little café that caters to people who have dietary needs.”

Asked what attracted her to the hospitality industry, Ms Williams added: “I have always loved food — I have always loved eating it and making it. With culinary arts, cooking is an art so you have the ability to create beautiful things that are edible. I love sharing that with people and I love service so hospitality is definitely the field for me.”

The fundraising dinner will be held at the Bahá’í Centre on Brunswick Street on June 10 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. There are limited seats for the sit-down dinner which costs $40 but there will also be a takeaway service for $35.

•Anyone interested in booking a meal should email kaylasavannah williams@gmail.com or call her on 519-9734