It is a fantastic honour to be able to celebrate another achievement of success in a year that has so far been particularly challenging as a result of the worldwide pandemic. On 11 September 2020, the Institute of Culinary Arts was awarded the title of overall WINNING CULINARY SCHOOL in the annual Add an Avo Culinary Student Competition, hosted and judged by the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (SAAGA).

It was such a pleasure to work with an esteemed and leading organization such as SAAGA and a privilege to provide ICA students with this valuable opportunity and exciting competition experience.

This year’s competition entry required students to think out of the box but within a tight budget. Participants had to create one main meal for two people, costing no more than R200. Naturally, the avocado needed to be the hero of the tasty and nutritious main meal.

As can be expected, ICA students did not disappoint with their innovative creations and submissions, resulting in an overall win for the school as well as second place for ICA 3^rd year student, Vicci Vierbergen and her entry of Avo gnocchi with roasted tomatoes and biltong.

The question poses: What sets ICA apart from the rest, to once again be named the best of the best? The answer lies in the high level of training excellence provided by the ICA. At the Institute of Culinary Arts, culinary training involves in-depth theoretical and practical education of an exceptionally high standard. This incomparable training ethos, paired with our unique specialization fields, sets students on a path to success. The ICA is the only culinary training school offering three very uniquely designed specialization courses on the 3-year diploma program, that ensures graduates remain the most sought after culinary trained employees in the industry and are extremely well equipped for a professional career in any aspect of the culinary arena.

Media Communication, Product Development and Professional Wine Studies are specialization fields that enhance the expertise and capabilities of fully-fledged chef graduates, vastly expanding career options within a multitude of exciting culinary-related disciplines! Because of the industry-led training students receive on any of these specialization courses, ICA students stand head and shoulders above their peers when they enter their chosen professional industry, armed with practical and theoretical knowledge – as well as a distinctive work ethic – that far outweighs that of their counterparts.

ICA graduates consistently reach the highest levels of achievement in all culinary-related fields. From globally-acclaimed chefs, award-winning food bloggers, food editors and cookbook authors to product developers for leading retailers and prized wine professionals, ICA always considers the accolades achieved by its graduates as a measurement of the school’s standard of training. And now, amidst Covid-19 disruption, yet another success story can be added to our already extensive list of recognitions of quality culinary education. It goes to show that the ICA continues to provide the best culinary training South Africa can offer, no matter what the circumstances may be!