Top 14 Best Culinary schools in South Africa

Are you interested in becoming a chef? You wanting to take your cooking skills to the next level and make cool cash from it is a great idea. However, this will require finding a school that helps advance your knowledge and techniques in cooking.
This is why in this article; I will be providing you with a list of culinary schools in South Africa.
Best Culinary schools in South Africa
Here are culinary schools in South Africa
- Pure Leith Chefs Academy
- The Culinary Academy
- The 1000 Hills Chefs Academy
- Institute of Culinary Arts
- South Africa Chefs Academy
- Silwood School of Cookery
- Christina Martin – School of Food & Wine
- Capsicum Culinary Studio
- The Fusion Cooking School
- Infinity Culinary Training School
- JHB Culinary Cooking School
- South Africa Academy of Culinary Arts
- Francois Ferreira Academy
- Olive Chef School
There’s so much competition in the catering industry and the easiest way to be on top is to be outstanding. Each one of these schools promises to give the best, however, when you’re done reading this article, you will be able to decide with of these schools you deem best and puts you at an advantage in the catering industry.
If finding a good culinary school in South Africa is what you seek, sit tight and read through this post.
1. Pure Leith Chefs Academy
Pure Leith Chefs Academy is one of South Africa’s best culinary schools, founded in 1986. It has its location in Pretoria South Africa. The culinary school is well known for providing advanced techniques in cooking using the best ingredients possible. If you are a beginner, no need to panic as the academy provides basic and fundamental principles in culinary art.
The training duration lasts for 18 months and it’s divided into 3 semesters. They provide classic and advanced training in culinary art. If classic and advanced training is what you seek, Pure Leith Chefs Academy is the right choice.
Website: https://www.prueleith.co.za/
2. The Culinary Academy
One of South Africa’s finest culinary schools is The Culinary Academy located at Backsberg Wine Estate, Paarl, South Africa. It is a school committed to providing you with adequate culinary training. The school offers different training plans which are; diploma in hospitality management, which will take 12 months to complete, advanced food, and wine diploma which lasts for 15 months, and also a grande diploma in good food, wine and hospitality management will last for 27 months.
The school provides a hygienic training environment and a great syllabus. It strives to provide advanced training methodology so as to ensure students get the best form of training possible. This academy has some of the best facilities there is to give the best training, plus it is internationally accredited. Looking for the best? The Culinary Academy provides you with that.
3. The 1000 Hills Chefs Academy
One of the reasons we know you can offer quality training is the availability of advanced facilities required for such training. The 1000 Hills Chefs Academy has some of the best facilities for culinary training in South Africa. Students can worry less about well-fitted training facilities as the school has advanced facilities to help give you quality training. The school focuses much on practical training. Additionally, it provides one of the best accommodation systems.
The 1000 Hills Chefs Academy was founded in 2004 and is located at Bothas Hill, Durban, SA. The school has trained food experts that will take you through its two years of culinary training. The first year being the year for foundational training, the school will educate you on the basics of preparing a good meal. The second year takes an advanced stage. Here you graduate from the basics and move to advance culinary training which will include different pastry skills.
4. Institute of Culinary Arts
The Institute of Culinary Arts is an experienced culinary training school offering training services for over 20 years with several awards to its name. This has given the institute a seat of honour among the best culinary schools in South Africa.
The school offers potential chefs various programs that take different durations to complete. It offers a 9 months training program, 1 year, 1 year-6 month, 2 years and 6 years culinary training programs. You can choose whichever you feel offers you what you need. Another unique feature of the school is that its training is based on sublime gastronomic, creative ideas and methods making it a unique place to get culinary training.
Website: https://www.icachef.co.za/
5. South Africa Chefs Academy
South Africa Chefs Academy located in Cape Town is recognized as a great culinary training school in SA. The academy offers professional training in culinary art. Students of this school continue to thrive and make heads way as chefs. With the professional training received, students are at an advantage of getting employed in top restaurants.
Different courses are offered at the institute. They include a six-month diploma course, a six-month certificate course, and a 1-year full-time diploma course.
6. Silwood School of Cookery
This school is the oldest culinary school in South Africa, established in 1964. It is a family run business and one to reckon with. It has over the years provided intense professional and expert culinary training to students with a goal to ensure that individuals who study under them are truly great at what they do.
Like most culinary schools in South Africa, Silwood offers different programs. The school offers three different full-time training programs which are; 1-year certificate course, a second-year diploma course and a third-year grande diploma. The school is committed to training individuals into world-class chefs. Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver are products of the Silwood School of Cookery.
7. Christina Martin – School of Food & Wine
Christina Martin – School of Food & Wine is a globally recognized culinary school. It is unarguably one of the best in the country. Cooking training is handled by highly trained and qualified cooks who will take you through a one-year culinary training program.
Aside from food training they also offer courses on the production of wine. If you’re looking to study at the school, you have an added advantage as you can get trained in preparing great meals as well as wine production if you choose to. The school is located in Westville, Durban, SA.
Address: 124 Jan Hofmeyr Rd, Westville, Durban, 3630, South Africa
8. Capsicum Culinary Studio
Capsicum Culinary Studio is a well-known school, recognized for its professional and advanced culinary training. The institute is a notable school with campuses scattered across 6 different locations in South Africa with facilities available to give you all you will need in becoming a great chef.
With its highly experienced trainers, students at the school are assured of excellent training. They have produced a number of successful chefs and are willing to continue the good work. They offer various advanced culinary courses to help increase your chances in the catering industry.
Website: https://www.capsicumcooking.com/
Phone: +27 86 111 2433
Email: [email protected]
9. The Fusion Cooking School
Also located in Westville, Durban, South Africa is The Fusion Cooking School known both locally and internationally. It has won many awards based on its productivity and contribution to the catering industry.
It has continued to pursue its motto; cook better, eat better and live better by training qualified and professional chefs who are recognized in the catering industry. The cooking school provides a learning environment that is conducive and well fitted to meet the needs of students. It also offers various courses with great tutors ready to give the best.
Website: https://www.fusioncooking.co.za/
10. Infinity Culinary Training School
The culinary school is located in Cape Town, SA and was established in 2009 by Barry Berman with a goal to assist the unemployed citizens of the country so they can gain skills to help them survive. And amazingly it has continued to provide catering skills to individuals.
With its link to various restaurants around the world, graduates can easily get employed in any of the restaurants. They offer basic and professional training to help enhance your catering skills and ensure you do well in it.
Website: https://www.ictchefs.org/
Address: 34 Adderley St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
11. JHB Culinary Cooking School
A school dedicated to training professional chefs. The institute was founded in 2012 with a mission to provide quality cooking tips and produce great chefs who can meet the competitive demands of the catering industry.
The cooking school offer two courses; the national courses which are targeted at equipping students with important cooking techniques and also international courses which is meant to improve the skills of those who already have the foundational knowledge of cooking. In JHB practical classes take 70% while theory classes take the remaining 30%.
Website: https://jcps.co.za/
12. South Africa Academy of Culinary Arts
South Africa Academy of Culinary Arts is another beautiful culinary school. Its instructors are highly qualified and always ready to work, they teach all through the week and dedicate a day to practice. They select qualified hands to train students; this they do to ensure that graduates of the academy are notable in their culinary skills.
The school has had an increasing number of students over the years; this can be attributed also to its friendly and welcoming environment. Various courses are offered at the academy, which includes: Highfield certificate in food production, Highfield certificate in food production and cooking, Highfield diploma in culinary arts, Highfield diploma in pastry arts, award in safety, the grande diploma Highfield in diploma and culinary arts.
Address: Stella Londt Dr, Fernglen, Gqeberha, 6045, South Africa
Phone: +27 76 263 2721
13. Francois Ferreira Academy
One of South Africa’s renowned culinary schools is the Francois Ferreira Academy, located in George. It is known to provide quality and professional training to students at the hands of well-trained tutors.
The school has a sound professional and academic system put together to give you the best they can offer. It offers full time and part-time qualifications; a one-year full-time diploma in culinary arts, three years diploma in food preparation and cooking, six months part-time diploma in culinary arts and a one-year part-time diploma in culinary arts.
Website: https://francoisferreira.co.za/
Tel: 044 884 0765
Address: Farm 208. R102 Airport Road George, Western Cape South Africa
14. Olive Chef School
Olive Chef School founded in 2000 is one of the top cooking schools in the country. It is one unique culinary school focused on providing professional training on how you can be creative with preparing food. They seek to train creative chefs who can invent new recipes and make cooking fun and enjoyable.
The culinary school offer an international certificate and diploma in food cooking and food preparation. It is located at olive chef school 14 Louis Botha St, Waverley Bloemfontein.
Website: https://olivechefschool.co.za/
Address: 14 Louis Botha St, Waverley, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa
FAQS
What’s the difference between a cook and a chef?
A chef is one with an advanced cooking skill gotten through some form of special training, while a cook has lesser training.
How much does culinary school cost in South Africa?
In South Africa, culinary school cost about 15,000 to 150,000 rand. The cost will depend on the kind of program you have chosen and the duration of the program.
How long do you study to become a chef in South Africa?
This will depend on the culinary school and the course you have chosen. Some courses take one year, two, four or more but ideally, a two-year diploma course will give you the needed skills to begin your journey as a chef.
What subjects are needed for a grade 11 chef?
Hospitality studies, mathematics, physical sciences and consumer studies are subjects needed for grade 11 chefs.
Is culinary school hard?
Culinary school can be hard if you have no prior knowledge of it. If you are fresh from high school, it can seem difficult but it’s worth it.
Is culinary a good career?
It’s a beautiful career and an amazing way to showcase your creativity. If you have a passion for cooking and creating new recipes, a career in culinary can be fun and an enjoyable way of living.
Conclusion
Beyond your love for cooking is a career path in which your cooking skills can fetch you money and recognition. Choosing this career path of becoming a chef will require you to acquire special training and skills. To help acquaint you with culinary schools available, I have reviewed culinary schools in South Africa in this article.
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