Cooking lessons at the best school in South Africa
While instruction and cooking lessons from one of the leading culinary institutions can’t make all your wishes come true, it can at least give you a head start in the culinary world. So should you consider whether or not cooking lessons and a more advanced and prestigious diploma at Prue Leith would be worth the 18 months it takes, maybe the correct answer is that you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by attending the Diploma course.
The cooking lessons, theory and practical experience as part of the course, prepare you for a career in the culinary world through the provision of the necessary skills and know-how to help you succeed in the fields of hospitality, catering and food preparation. To make sure that you are fully prepared, there are several topics that will be dealt with in-depth as part of the extensive course. The comprehensiveness of the Prue Leith training is one of the many aspects that set the college apart from other culinary institutes. Fundamental food preparation and presentation cooking lessons
First you learn how to crawl, then how to walk, after which you learn to run, jump and become a winner. The same applies to the culinary arts. You first need an introduction to the basics involved in food preparation, hygiene and the kitchen. This also includes an understanding of kitchen and culinary terms as well as French terms. You need to learn how to handle knives, keep the kitchen organized and understand the basics of food sanitation. Although the above may not be new to you and don’t seem to fit in with your idea of cooking lessons, it still lays a solid foundation for the more advanced parts of the course.
Diet, food ingredients, the disciplines and menu planning
To be able to prepare a meal, you need to understand the value of the ingredients and what goes together. Since you will learn how to transform dull and seemingly unimportant and not so tasty food, into works of art that enchant and inspire, you will need to know the nutritional value to our bodies and how our bodies react to certain types of food. It is more than knowing what makes fat or gives energy. It is about being able to prepare nutritious and visually attractive meals and the transformation of for instance, cabbage into a gourmet meal. This knowledge will also aid you in the menu planning module for all types of occasions.Viniculture
As part of the training at the renowned Prue Leith College of Food and Wine, located in Centurion, South Africa, you will also be introduced to the art of wine making. It is compulsory for all students to complete the Cape Academy of Wine certificate course to learn how wines are produced, what makes a good cultivar and what wines complement and enhance the flavor of each particular dish.
Pan African, international and vegetarian cuisine
Cooking lessons in all of the above will help to prepare you for institutions where ethnic or culture focused foods are served. It provides you with the essentials for preparing food for specific groups. French, European, Pan African and other cuisines are taught to help you gain knowledge for every type of market. Restaurant work
Unlike many schools that never provide students the opportunity to practice their skills, Prue Leith has an onsite restaurant called the Odd Plate, known for its excellent cuisine and service. This is where you will train in every aspect of kitchen and restaurant work.
Catering
To compliment your practical experience, we also include topics related directly to catering and provide you with hands-on experience in our catering kitchen. You will also get the opportunity to work as part of a catering team.
Internships
One of the most difficult parts of starting a career is to obtain an internship position. At Prue Leith students do a practical module at one of the leading hotels, restaurants or lodges on our list. This can be in South Africa or overseas and provides students an open door to the culinary world.
The above topics and modules are only a few of the many offered as part of our world famous Prue Leith Diploma course. Even if you have never had any cooking lessons, you are welcome to apply. Contact us to find out how you can benefit from our course or apply online.
