Fuel your culinary passion at Capsicum Culinary Studio
With the school’s new food and beverage programme, its Career Centres launch and the upcoming Open Day
Capsicum Culinary Studio – the largest chef school of its kind in South Africa with six campuses throughout the country and numerous graduates employed worldwide – has announced the launch of a new food and beverage programme and internal Career Centres.
Celebrating its 21st year in operation, Capsicum is introducing a one-year, full-time Food and Beverage Service Programme, which brings together elements of food and drink preparation and service, and develops the foundational ability for learners to supervise food and beverage service operations. Students in this field will have the opportunity to build the fundamental skills to develop into future hospitality service excellence individuals, and the qualification is applicable to all food and beverage operations, from small restaurants to large-scale hotels. The first intake will be in February.
Other qualifications on offer at Capsicum include the one-year Professional Chef Programme (full or part-time), the hugely popular one-year professional Patisserie Programme, the three-year advanced Professional Chef Programme and the Assistant Chef and Assistant Baker Programmes. There’s also the Rookie Chef programme, which is offered exclusively to high-school learners.
This year also sees the launch of Career Centres at all six Capsicum Culinary Studio campuses, which enables the school’s registered students to undergo interviews and explore job opportunities with key industry partners. This seamless connection between Capsicum Culinary Studio and its industry partners helps facilitate a smooth transition for students from education to placement and ultimately employment.
Says Candice Adams, Academic Operations Manager for Capsicum Culinary Studio:
“Our commitment to maintaining strong relationships with industry partners is embedded in our institutional ethos. By fostering collaboration, staying abreast of industry dynamics and actively seeking input from professionals, we are able to help our students remain relevant, develop a dynamic work ethos and align with the evolving needs of the sector. This maximises graduates’ opportunities for success in building meaningful careers that can take them anywhere in the world.”
Since it was established in 2003, Capsicum Culinary Studio has produced more than 8 000 alumni who are now working all over the globe and who have established themselves as leaders within various markets. Employers range from boutique establishments to large multi-national hotels and resorts. Others have taken the entrepreneurial route and established their own hospitality-inspired businesses and consultancies.
Capsicum Culinary Studio courses offer dual international certification through City and Guilds and are nationally accredited with CATHSSETA and the QCTO, attributing to their alumni making their mark throughout the world. Capsicum Culinary Studio has partnerships with The Swiss Education Group (SEG), the American Hotel Academy (AHA) and are members of The South African Chefs Association, and by extension The World Association of Chefs Societies, exposing learners to international standards and opportunities.
There are many very successful Capsicum alumni around the world including:
Chef Wandile Mabaso who was named the Chef of the Year at the Luxe Restaurant Awards in 2022. After spending over a decade overseas working in many top restaurants around the world, Mabaso returned to South Africa to launch his Bryanston-based restaurant, Les Créatifs.
Chef Marcus Modimokwane came to popularity during the national lockdown in South Africa, where he became a favourite chef thanks to his “easy to make at home meals” videos. He has featured in a number of publications and TV shows, including the eTV Morning Show.
Winning a bursary to study at Capsicum Culinary Studio changed Genghis San’s life. He is currently the executive chef at AKA Lead Kitchen at the Radisson RED Rosebank. This wasn’t Chef San’s only major achievement during his stellar career. He also reached the regionals for Unilever’s Junior Chef of the Year and achieved executive chef status at the age of 24.
Pretoria campus graduate Hendrik Pretorius worked at 5-star establishments in Dubai before being lured to Lisbon, Portugal to head up the paitisserie section for one of the city’s leading restaurants. After five years, Pretorius left and has opened up his own eatery called Quest.
Kloof-born Isla Rechner graduated from the school’s Durban campus and is now the Group Pastry Chef for all four branches of celebrity chef Bill Granger’s Grange & Co restaurants located across London.
If you want to join the legion of successful alumni and are looking to explore your study and career opportunities for 2024 , then take part in the next Capsicum Open Day which takes place at all of its campuses on Saturday, January 27, from 09h00 to 12 noon. For more information go to Capsicum Culinary Studio Open Day or contact your local Capsicum campus.
For more information visit one of the Capsicum Culinary Studio campuses during business hours from Mondays to Thursdays. Contact them on +27 86 111 2433 or email chef@capsicumcooking.co.za to arrange a visit.
Capsicum campuses are located at:
- Boksburg: Unit 6, Bartlett Lake Office Park, Cnr Leith and Trichards Roads, Boksburg
- Cape Town: 6th Floor, Rex Trueform Office Park, 263 Victoria Rd, Salt River.
- Durban: 300 Granada Square, 16 Chartwell Dr, Umhlanga Rocks.
- Johannesburg: 3 Keyes Ave, Rosebank.
- Nelson Mandela Bay: 1 Newmarket Rd, Greenacres, Gqeberha .
- Pretoria: Menlyn Square, Ground Floor, South Building, 134 Aramist Ave, Waterkloof Glen.
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