A Cooking Academy in a Class of its Own

The need for a cooking academy can be attributed to two groups of people. The first group is those who wish to pursue a full-time career in the food industry, thus becoming professional chefs. The second group enjoys preparing food but does not necessarily want to make a full-time career of it. Prue Leith group of companies is a cooking academy that caters for both these groups.

Prue Leith Chef’s Academy in Centurion, Gauteng is a specialized cooking academy for professional chefs. The 18 month Diploma course presented by them is of the highest international standard. One often finds advertisements for vacancies that states: “Prue Leith graduates only.” Some of Prue Leith’s graduates worked in kitchens with celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver or Gordon Ramsay – proof that this cooking academy is in a class of its own. Students at Prue Leith receive theoretical and practical training in cold kitchen, hot kitchen and pastry kitchen – the latter of Master Class level. The acclaimed Leith restaurant is located on campus and is run by the students. On completion of their training at the cooking academy, each student will be familiar with every aspect of running a restaurant. Planning menus; managing a kitchen; cooking and serving food as well as the duties of wine waiter, front of house and maitre d’hotel.

The second group, who prefers to attend short courses at a professional cooking academy, can do so at Prue Leith Catering Company. One can choose between Thai, Japanese, Portuguese, Greek or American menus. The group prepares either lunch or dinner themselves – under the guidance of chefs from the cooking academy. Afterwards they enjoy the meal together. Liberal quantities of wine and laughter accompany the cooking at this academy.