Institute of Culinary Arts - ICA

⚜️ A chef’s career starts with the right training.

At the ICA, students build a strong foundation in culinary arts through practical skills, theory, research and professional development.

Your journey starts here.

Apply here: https://www.icachef.co.za/apply-now/

🧑‍🍳 Curro Durbanville High School’s Consumer Studies learners recently spent the day with us on campus.

Their visit included time in one of our training kitchens, where they worked alongside ICA students and chef lecturers to prepare baked items.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the learners to experience a small part of professional chef training and spend time in a working culinary school environment.

We look forward to seeing where their culinary journeys lead next.

📸 As part of their Media Communication training, our 3rd Year students learn how to style food so that every element has a purpose on camera.

For this practical, students focused on the art of stacking a burger. The aim was to build the burger in a way that showed the layers clearly, highlighted the ingredients and made the final image look generous and appetising.

It is a practical exercise in structure, balance and styling for the camera.

Images by 3rd Year Media Communication students Timothy Subjee, Luïse Staats and Charné Strauss.

Every chef leaves footprints.

Some leave them in restaurant kitchens. Some leave them in books, on television screens, in vineyards, or in classrooms. And some leave footprints so distinctive that they become part of the culinary landscape itself.

Our latest blog article explores the remarkable FooDprints left by ICA alumni across South Africa and the world.

Read the full article here: https://www.icachef.co.za/foodprints-the-marks-they-leave-behind/

❄️🧑‍🍳 WINTER SCHOOL 2026
2 & 3 July | 09:00–13:00 | ICA Campus, Banhoek

Curious about life as a chef student? Join us for a hands-on introduction to the ICA’s world-class culinary training this July.

Our Winter School workshops offer high school learners the chance to step into our kitchens, experience practical tuition and explore what it means to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Limited spaces available.

Bookings are now open. Visit our website to secure your spot here https://www.icachef.co.za/upcoming-events/ -schools

🍷 Our 1st Year students visited Koelenhof Winery in Stellenbosch as part of their Professional Wine Studies.

The day offered a closer look at winemaking, with time spent learning about the process and tasting wines on site.

For young chefs, experiences like these help build a better understanding of wine, food pairing and the role beverages play in the dining experience.

📸 As part of their Media Communication training, our 3rd Year students learn that food styling is not always as straightforward as it looks.

For this practical challenge, students had to create and photograph fake ice cream — a classic food styling technique used when real ice cream would melt too quickly on set.

It is a simple but valuable exercise that teaches students how to plan, problem-solve and use professional tricks of the trade to get the right image.

Images by 3rd Year Media Communication students Desmaré Brand, Charné Strauss, Louis Feldscher and Luïse Staats.

❄️🧑‍🍳 WINTER SCHOOL 2026
2 & 3 July | 09:00–13:00 | ICA Campus, Banhoek

Curious about life as a chef student? Join us for a hands-on introduction to the ICA’s world-class culinary training this July.

Our Winter School workshops offer high school learners the chance to step into our kitchens, experience practical tuition and explore what it means to pursue a career in the culinary arts.

Limited spaces available.

Bookings are now open. Visit our website or secure your spot here https://www.icachef.co.za/upcoming-events/ -schools

⚜️ The current hospitality industry demands professionals who understand the complete dining experience — from flavour pairing and guest interaction to event curation and business insight.

Did you know that ICA graduates have gone on to become sommeliers, wine ambassadors, hospitality managers, event coordinators, entrepreneurs and even educators?

At the ICA, wine is never approached as simply a beverage. It is understood as culture, storytelling, craftsmanship and experience.

Find out how the ICA’s Professional Wine Studies & Event Coordination specialisation field opens doors to careers that are broader and more exciting than students may ever have imagined when first stepping into the ICA's training kitchens.

Read the full article here https://www.icachef.co.za/ica-where-wine-hospitality-and-leadership-meet/