Culinary history made at Centurion academy
“We could contribute to raising the standards of our entire industry and help to make South Africa a food destination…”
The Prue Leith Chef’s Academy in Centurion made history recently when the country’s first-ever so-called “artisan” chefs graduated at the institution.
The event was attended by private and public educators, the South African Chefs Association as well as deputy tourism minister Elizabeth Thabethe last week, Tuesday.
Thabethe congratulated the first cohort of South African chefs who graduated.
“This milestone will contribute towards developing South Africa’s food tourism because all of the graduates who have qualified are mentors at reputable chef schools,” said Thabethe
She said that South African chefs are highly sought after the world over because of the high standards of training they receive from local institutions in partnership with City & Guilds and the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).
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The National Artisan Moderation Body (NAMB) established a technical working group from private and public culinary training providers in 2015 to design the first-ever chef trade test for South Africa.
The trade test would be the practical and theory assessment for all students completing the new national occupational chef certificate, setting a new national standard for qualified chefs.
“This journey reminds us of what Nelson Mandela meant when he said, ‘It always seems impossible until it is done’,” said Thabethe.
“It was an honour for the academy to be involved as it gave us not only the opportunity to ensure culinary excellence for its own students, but also the South African chef industry,” said Prue Leith Chefs Academy managing director Adele Stiehler-Van der Westhuizen.
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“We could contribute to raising the standards of our industry and make South Africa a destination where food experiences are on par with the view of Table Mountain, the wine lands and the Big Five.”
“South Africa already produces world-class wines, cheese, olive oils, meat and so many other great ingredients. We hope that our three-year journey will also result in world-class chefs for South Africa.”
Chefs interested in obtaining the occupational certificate: chef can contact Stiehler-Van der Westhuizen at adeles@prueleith.co.za.
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