Centurion – Home of SA’s Top Culinary School

Centurion – Home of SA’s Top Culinary School

If you have conducted research about what is required by today’s modern culinary arts or spoken to professional chefs in South Africa who have undergone their training here, it is likely that you will have come across the name of the top culinary school in South Africa more than once. This professional, nationally and internationally accredited institute of education and training, a school of culinary excellence, is known as the Prue Leith Chefs Academy. It is located in Centurion, a rapidly growing business and residential centre between Pretoria and Midrand. 

Belief in Theory and Practice

The three founders of our school; our esteemed patron, after whom the academy was named, Prue Leith CBE; and our management and academic team all firmly stand by the theoretical and practical aspects of culinary education and training. Therefore, the renowned fine-dining Prue Leith Restaurant is also situated on our extensive 7500-m² Hennops Park property.

Hands-On, Real Experience for Bona-Fide Diners

The restaurant is staffed by our expertly supervised full-time students during their 2^nd Commis semester, ensuring that they become confident and adept at their craft in a real-time, real-life restaurant environment. At this on-site, on-campus restaurant in Centurion, students gain practical, hands-on cooking and serving experience by catering for discerning, paying diners, just as they would be at any other fine-dining establishment.

Professional Culinary Courses

Five full-time, professional courses are on offer at our prestigious academy in Centurion:

• Introduction to Professional Cookery – 1 year.
• Occupational Certificate: Chef – 3 years.
• ALMA “Professional Chef of Italian Cuisine” – 19 months.
• Professional Patisserie – 18 months (from novice to entry-level position status as a pastry chef).
• Professional Patisserie – 6 months (for qualified chefs who wish to specialise in patisserie, initially beginning as an entry-level pastry chef after qualification).

Two of these courses also qualify as post-graduate programmes:

• ALMA “Professional Chef of Italian Cuisine” – 10 months (shorter duration).
• Professional Patisserie – 6 months (as indicated previously).

Two Prue Leith Chefs Academy courses are available on a part-time basis. Keep in mind that intensive part-time studies require more than usual commitment, dedication, drive, and self-discipline:

• Foundation of Cooking – 18 months (for chefs already working in the culinary field that wish to have a formal, professional qualification, or other persons who are employed in another industry, and cannot take time off from work to attend full-time classes to become qualified, professional chefs).
• Professional Patisserie – 18 months.

Short Culinary Courses in Centurion

Prue Leith’s culinary school in Centurion does not neglect keen home cooks and culinary enthusiasts for whom we offer a big collection of short courses in a host of specialities, including a wine course, Summer Salads, Taming Fire: Mastering the Art of Braaing, Secrets of Seafood, Art of Tarts, Festive Baking & Decorating: Christmas, (still in time for Christmas 2018), and many more options.

Our graduates are proud to have qualified at our Centurion academy. We are proud of them and also to be known throughout this country as the cream of South Africa’s culinary schools for numerous reasons. Moreover, we are exceptionally proud to be extremely closely associated with our eminent patron, Prue Leith, CBE.