First Gourmet Academy offers culinary diploma courses

MANILA, Philippines – Enroll at First Gourmet Academy and be the master of your own or your dream restaurant’s kitchen. The school is now accepting applicants for its diploma courses and short certificate courses.

The Diploma in Commercial Cooking and Culinary Arts is a six-month intensive course for those who aspire to become chefs. It covers the essentials of Food Safety and Sanitation, basic culinary skills and food science, baking and pastry, garde manger and International Cuisines. Students undergo a three-month internship in any of the academy’s accredited training partners.

The Diploma in Commercial Cooking, Culinary Arts and Entrepreneurship is designed for the budding chef cum entrepreneur. It covers basic restaurant design, wine appreciation, bartending, service styles and kitchen management.

Classes for both diploma courses will start on Aug. 24.

At the helm of First Gourmet Academy’s kitchen is director and chief instructor Mats Loo. This Swedish chef earned his university degree in social science and a diploma in culinary arts from Virginska Skolan in Örebro, Sweden. Rooted in the strong traditional European way of cooking and having worked for some of the best European restaurants and global cruise ships, Loo brings with him a wealth of experiences in culinary management and operations. Lending their expertise in the areas of finance entrepreneurship are seasoned businessmen Romy Mercado and Dennis Nakpil and business consultant Antonio Magcase.

First Gourmet Academy also offers short certificate courses. Baking enthusiasts and dessert lovers will be taught the science and art of baking cakes, cookies, pies, tarts and other sweets in Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry. This four-session-program will end on Aug. 1.

The eight-session Fundamentals of Culinary Arts, meanwhile, will start on July 9. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and the ability to become semi-professionals or recreational chefs by the end of the eight session on Aug. 27.

For those who want to explore the wonders of foreign cooking, the four-session European Cuisine program is definitely for you. Chef Mats will impart his extensive knowledge about the various European cooking methods. Classes started on July 14 and ends on Aug. 4. A four-session course that will equip students with knowledge and skills on Asian Cuisine, on the other hand, will begin on Aug. 11 and run until Sept. 9.

First Gourmet Academy is located at Capitol Greenstreet Capitol Hills Drive, Old Balara, Quezon City. Fo rmore information, call 951-9655 and 951-1687 951-8583, e-mail info@firstgourmetacademy.com or visit www.firstgourmetacademy.com