ICF@FEU - for a better kitchen, better world

MANILA, Philippines - Rising in the heart of the Central Business District is the FEU Makati campus which houses ICF @ FEU.

The desire for good food is something that we all have in common. It is but natural to crave for food that not only fills our stomachs but satisfies the palate as well. To that end, culinary schools and other educational institutions have been emerging with the promise of quality education and a job waiting upon completion of their chosen course. Enter the world of ICF @ FEU. ICF @ FEU is a collaboration of two trusted learning institutions which aim to promote culinary wellness and sustainability to the Filipino culinary world.

The Institute of Culinary Arts and Food Service (ICF), backed by the Pancake House Group under the management of chairman and CEO Martin Lorenzo, has three decades of experience in providing exemplary dining experiences. Now in 2010, ICF has found a new home at the new Makati campus of Far Eastern University (FEU).

Being one of the most respected universities in the country, FEU shares its strong heritage of integrated and service-oriented learning with ICF’s expertise in culinary arts and food service. FEU president Dr. Lydia Echauz says, “Our partnership with ICF is a result of a shared vision in elevating culinary education in the country through a curriculum grounded on sustainability and wellness. We realized the growing need to promote culinary practices that can improve one’s health, make homes and businesses safer, and contribute to preservation of the environment.” Dr. Echauz adds, “Together with ICF, we are now able to provide this to more students and professionals who want to enter this field.” 

Located at the new FEU campus on the corner of Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue and Malugay Street in Makati, ICF @ FEU offers a wide range of special courses. These are part of the Continuing Education and Training Program and include Nutrition and Healthy Cuisine, Cake Decoration, Food Styling and Plating Techniques, and even on Bartending and Mixology. The Culinary Chefs Training Program is a two-year course where students learn theory, technique, palate training, speed, and teamwork as they progress through programs of increasing complexity. The Baking and Pastry Chefs Training Program is an eight-month comprehensive and hands-on program engaging students in the baking and pastry traditions of Austria, Italy, Switzerland, America, and France. Students will be educated using complete equipment and facilities that will provide fundamental culinary knowledge to become a great chef or a food service practitioner. Culinary tours will be part and parcel of the learning experience as the curriculum aims to give on-the-job training to students while also increasing their awareness on possible job opportunities upon graduation.

Placing a keen eye on education and learning from people who are experts in their field, the ICF Culinary Program head is chef Joey Herrera, a gold medalist at the Food & Hotel Asia Expo in Singapore and at Chefs on Parade in 2008. The ICF Baking Program head is Chef Ramon Castillo, former senior pastry cook for Mandarin Oriental, Manila. ICF’s loaded roster includes Baking and Pastry instructors chef Maigie Atienza-Feria, a trained cake artist from Le Notre Paris, and chef Joan Fajardo, apprentice to the Philippines’ best pastry chef, Ernie Babaran.

ICF school director Ma. Paz L. Sales proudly says that, “ICF @ FEU puts an emphasis on teaching proper technique to ensure that our students will be ready to face any and all cooking scenarios in the real world.”

For more information on ICF @ FEU, please log on to www.icf.com.ph and www.feu.edu.ph