The right chef’s qualification matters
- Awards
- Beyond
With the ICA chef school’s idyllic setting amongst the country’s most picturesque mountains, vineyards and orchards, comes the seasonal risks and hazards faced by all who call Stellenbosch and the Cape Winelands their home. The recent wildfires in the Banhoek area left a trail of destruction, threatening homes, farms, and businesses. As the flames raged, the community came together to fight back—and the Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) was no exception.
ICA students and staff quickly mobilized to assist in any way they could. Some, like third-year student Sebastian Johnson, whose family home is in close vicinity to the ICA campus, were on the front lines helping to physically contain the blaze, spending hours on end surrounded by suffocating smoke and heat, fighting alongside the valley’s brave firefighters, neighbours and volunteers. Chef lecturers, together with the 3rd-year students, took to the kitchen, preparing and delivering much-needed sandwiches and refreshments to sustain the local group of firefighters and volunteers working tirelessly to protect the valley. The one day, Sebastian was out in the field, the very next day, he was in the kitchen making provisions, because that’s what it takes.
This effort reflects ICA’s deep-rooted commitment to giving back. Beyond training world-class chefs, ICA instils a culture of leadership, resilience, and service. In times of crisis, this means stepping up—not just in the kitchen, but wherever they are needed.
From the fire line to the pass, ICA’s students and staff have once again shown that excellence is about more than skill—it’s about heart, teamwork, and making a meaningful impact in the community they call home.
Thank you to everyone who assisted in protecting the valley over the weekend. The ICA is incredibly grateful for your selfless service.
