L-R: Kelston “Chef Sweets” Connor, Claudio “Chef Boopie” Gumbs, Jonathan “Chef Jonny” Hughes, Fabian Abbott & Warressia Baker
The Anguilla Community College (ACC) has launched a new professional development programme for practicing chefs and cooks. The Chef Certificate Programme (CCP) is specifically intended to develop the theoretical competencies that complement candidates’ practical skills garnered through years of work in the culinary industry.
According to Ms Sharon Richardson, Director of the Hospitality Studies Division at the Anguilla Community College, the Chef Certificate Programme (CCP) was developed based on the curriculum created for the Caribbean Tourism and Learning System – and candidates are assessed by coursework (assignments) as well as examinations. In addition to core applied academic competencies, the Chef Certificate Programme also covers areas required for managing cost-effective and efficient food production such as Menu Planning, Food, Beverage and Labour Cost Control and Purchasing and Materials Management.
This twelve-month Chef Certificate Programme recognises that success in the culinary field is not only about the ability to cook. Success also requires a chef’s creativity, application of principles of the culinary arts and an understanding of nutrition. Moreover, chefs require a firm understanding and operationalisation of efficiencies in sourcing, purchasing and preparing food. Disregard for these elements of efficiency can spell disaster for a culinary enterprise no matter how talented a chef may be.
Though the five persons who have registered for the first cohort are all relatively experienced chefs and cooks, there will be a practical component to the CCP which will run during the Summer semester at the ACC’s new culinary training facility situated at the Long Path Campus. The general public will be invited to attend these demos, exhibitions and events.
It is possible to take some of the courses within the CCP as single units. For instance, Restaurant Managers, Heads of Food and Beverage, Chefs and other qualified persons could opt to take one course for their professional development perhaps in Purchasing and Materials Management, or in Food, Beverage and Labour Cost Control.
Persons already in the industry who are interested in moving their career on an upward trajectory are encouraged to register their interest with the ACC by calling (264) 498-8395/497-2538, WhatsApp (264) 476-8395 or email info@acc.edu.ai.
– Press Release
