How many days have we all spent drooling over pictures of food, enviously scrolling through our Instagram feeds that are mostly filled with our friends’ fancy meals? It’s sort of a universal language that connects people around the world.
There’s no other art form that cuts across classes, ethnicity and economic levels like the art of making food. Be it a dish of Crab-Stuffed Filet Mignon on a luxury cruise in France, or a spicy plate of Kulcha Nihari at a Lucknowi street-side stall, a smoothly mixed tumbler of filter coffee at a Chennai cafe, or a well shaken Margarita on a rooftop bar in Miami; culinary perfection is the hallmark of nearly every culture that has come to passing.
It is perhaps because of this, in today’s infinitely informative world, that there has been an ever rising demand for various Food & Beverage fields, where the focus is not just on talent and passion for culinary arts, but also, technical expertise and a diverse set of skills.
In India, too, we’ve moved from a century where cooking skills were limited to a woman’s daily routine in the kitchen, to a time where both genders are making it a career. As they say, it’s a great time to start in the Food & Beverage industry in India today. In this highly competitive field, more than financial investment and management skills, you need to be innovative enough to lure people into your restaurant or bar through excellent kitchen skills, a unique ambience, or a smart marketing strategy.
Why Study Hotel Management?
The lessons you learn at a hotel management course would help you go a long way. Let’s understand why a hotel management course is an important step to start your career in the F&B industry
As the very first step of formally getting into the food and beverage industry, it’s ideal that one goes through the learning and training process of a reputed hotel management institute. You can take up hotel management right after completing schooling. It can also be completed at a post-graduation, certificate or diploma levels. The very nature of the service and hospitality industry combines both arts and business subjects, and thus makes practically anyone eligible to apply.
DIVERSE SKILL SET
A hotel management course gets you ready for the hospitality industry mainly, but a major chunk of the F&B industry revolves around understanding the hospitality and service industry. It also provides exposure to almost all of the fields in the industry, right from accounting to the front desk, culinary skills to housekeeping, management to sales and marketing. The end result is a well-rounded professional who understands how every field works and this insight can help them manage restaurants or hotels much better than someone who comes from only a business management or arts background.
ART AND SCIENCE OF FOOD
A major subject in this course is food production, which involves understanding the art and science of gastronomy, nutrition and ingredients, using kitchen equipment, and methods of preparations. Besides this, you also learn things like setting up tables, picking the right glass for the right drink, stewarding, food science, and more.
All about passion
The food service industry is extremely varied. To excel in this industry, Passion is what you need the most. You must love food and preparing it, making the customer happy with an incredible experience. Discipline is also something that is crucial in this industry, as it’s about hard work and many hours of practice.
After pursuing a culinary qualification/degree, a graduate should be ready to work in any kitchen, in any foodservice environment, and be ready to move up in responsibility as they gain more experience.
Top Culinary Institutes in India
Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad
Located in Hyderabad, CAI is one of the nest institutes of culinary arts in India.
Courses:
- Bachelor degree in Catering Technology and Culinary Arts
- Post Graduate Diploma in Culinary Arts
- Certificate Course in Food Production and Patisserie.
Mumbai College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Mumbai
The college is managed by Dnyanvardhini Education society established in 1998 and offers a limited number of scholarship and assistantship opportunities for exceptional students who are financially challenged. Students work as trainees with a stipend plus free food and accommodation.
Courses:
- M. Sc. in Hotel Management
- P. G. Diploma in Hotel Management
- B.Sc. in Hotel management & Tourism & Catering Operation
- Diploma in Hotel management & Catering Technology
Amrapali Institute of Hotel Management, Haldwani
Amrapali’s Centralised Training & Placement Department (CTPD) provides students with employment opportunities by inviting the top companies of the industry to the campus for recruitment drives, thus helping the placement rate exceed to 95 percent.
Courses:
- Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (BHMCT)
- Bachelor of Hospitality Management (BHM)
- Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology (DHMCT)
- Diploma in Hotel Management (DHM)
College of Hospitality & Tourism, Delhi
With courses available for undergraduate as well as postgraduate degrees, the institution also provides hostel facilities, laboratory facilities and other infrastructural facilities that will help culinary enthusiasts to make optimum use of their time studying in the same.
Courses:
- Diploma in Hospitality & Tourism
- Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management & Tourism
- AHLA Diploma
- Advanced Diploma in Food Preparations and Culinary Arts
- Post Graduate in Culinary Arts Specialization –Indian/Continental/Patisserie
- Others
Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Meerut
The Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition, Meerut was established in 1987 as an autonomous body. IHM Meerut was first of its kind in North India to be approved by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as early 1993. It aims to train students for the food and beverage industry both in India and abroad, and give them the much-needed exposure and insight into the working of the same.
Courses:
- Hotel Management & Catering Technology (BHMCT)
- B.Sc. in Hospitality & Hotel Administration (B.Sc. HHA)
- Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology (DHMCT)
Culinary Exchange Programmes in the World
No matter how much knowledge one acquires in a field, there is seldom any use for it unless you put it to practice and, even better, make a career out of it. To ignite the spark in you and help you pursue your passion for a career in the food and beverage industry, we bring you some of the best culinary arts exchange programmes around the world
While a lot of students are extremely apprehensive about moving out of the comfort of their homes to venture abroad and start creating their careers, most of them believe that it can prove to be an amazing opportunity to enhance their skills in an environment that is conducive to their field of expertise. As for an ardent fan of culinary practices, what better way to achieve their love for the art, than to study in the country from which the first of the cuisine originated? We take a look at a few of these institues that you can attend abroad, for the wholesome experience.
American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS)
With over 1.5 million students that have travelled abroad, AIFS is one of the largest providers of study abroad programmes for students who wish to explore career prospects in different countries around the globe. Cannes and Paris both have unique programmes for culinary enthusiasts who wish to gain extensive knowledge on the French cuisine. For details visit: www.aifsabroad.com
Ducasse Institute
A professional culinary school located in Argenteuil, Paris, the Ducasse Institute offers a Superior Culinary Arts diploma and provides hands-on training to young chefs who are looking to improve their skill set or explore new cooking techniques for various cuisines. The 6-month long course (3-month courses + 3-month experience in a Ducasse Education network restaurant) gives you access to educational contents enabling to reach the highest levels of industry expectations.
For details visit: www.alain-ducasse.com/en
The Gastronomy and Culinary Management University Centre (Gasma)
A university training, research and innovation centre that aims to develop the gastronomy sector by taking a unique approach. Gasma is the first educational institution in Spain to combine the specialities of Gastronomy and Culinary Management. Over its course, students experience Gastronomy and Management first-hand and grow in both disciplines.
For details visit: www.gasma.es/en
Culinary Arts Institute at VUM
The officially accredited university offering a Bachelor Degree not only in Culinary Arts but in Gastronomy and Culinary Arts in Central and Eastern Europe. The institute provides a 4-year programme in culinary arts and internships at the well-known multinational giants in the F&B industry.
For details visit: www.culinaryartseurope.com
