Monday, January 5, 2009

Kitchen Confidential


Nilai UC’s Chef Nadzri Alim explains why Culinary Arts is fast becoming the popular career choice of school leavers.

Nilai University College (Nilai UC) offers a wide variety programmes from Degree in Computer Science to Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. But visitors to its 105-acre award-winning campus can be forgiven in thinking that Nilai UC specialises in Nursing and Culinary Arts. Dotting the lush green landscape are scores of crisp white nurses uniforms and ultra-starched chef jackets.

Gone are the days when a career in the kitchen was obtained through a grueling apprenticeship under a master chef whilst starting at the bottom rung as a dishwasher or cleaner. These days, school leavers can join a programme such as Nilai UC’s Diploma in Culinary Arts, which train aspiring Jamie Olivers and Gordon Ramsays in the necessary skills required for them to get a head start in the pressure cooker environment of a professional kitchen. Senior lecturer in Nilai UC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, Chef Nadzri Alim explains why Culinary Arts programme is a firm favourite among school leavers.

Why should a student or school leaver choose Culinary Arts?
There are several reasons. Firstly, there is rapid growth in the tourism and hospitality industry. Almost anywhere in the world, barring war zones, there is an increase in the number of hotels and food and beverage outlets. Being a chef is also a very exciting prospect as if you can cook, you have a skill that’s appreciated anywhere in the world. Chefs today are no longer confined to the kitchen; instead they can also be hotel general managers or even food ambassadors.

What about earning capacity?
Successful chefs have a limitless salary scale. World famous chefs basically get to name their price.

Outline the programme for prospective students.
Students will be schooled in a combination of culinary practical and theory classes. The former will include western and international cuisine, pastry and bakery, advance pastry and confectionary.

Is there an option the student to further their studies once they have completed their Diploma in Culinary Arts?
Students who want to further their studies after completing the Diploma in Culinary Arts can go on to do the 3+0 Oxford Brookes University Degree in Business and Hospitality Management. (The Culinary Arts Diploma holder will also get exemption of at least a semester and enter the degree programme in the second year).
A degree will help graduates secure managerial or higher positions. Also note that Oxford Brookes University’s Hospitality School, which validates Nilai UC programmes, has been rated the top hospitality school in the United Kingdom (* the sixth best worldwide by a poll conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Travel and Tourism (UK) in September 2007)

The title of ‘Chef’ now commands quite a lot of respect. Why the sudden change in perception?
Celebrity Chefs such as the aforementioned Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Malaysia’s very own Chef Wan have helped promote chef as a glamorous profession. People have started to accept chefs as a respectable profession that a career can be built on.

How long before a student can become a chef?
A lot will depend on their fresh graduate’s willingness to learn and work. It will take around two to four years before they achieve the status of ‘chef’. It will take another three to five years of hard work to reach Executive Chef level. If you think that’s hard work, ask how long before a law graduate is made senior partner or is considered for the bench. It will take as long, if not even longer

Do you think it is important for students to have role model chefs? Why?
Every student needs a mentor to look up to and to learn as much from him/her as possible. Even I had a mentor when I started working in the hospitality industry as a very young cook/ I learned everything about Culinary Arts from my mentor. I even followed his style of cooking and management until today.

What sort of working life can a professional chef expect?
To be successful in this line of work, one must be prepared to work more than 12 hours per day. Many sacrifices will have to be made before a person can be successful. This will be the case whether you are working in a restaurant, resort hotel, cruise liner, caterer, or airlines. Salaries will be based on experience and qualifications but like I said earlier, there is no ceiling cap on a chef’s wages. Many chefs eventually end up owning and running their own F ‘n’ B outlets.

What are the characteristics that mark a person as a top-notch chef?
Most importantly, a person must have a passion for food and cooking. But to be successful, a person must also possess discipline, focus and desire to succeed. An imaginative mind will also help a person when creating new dishes.

Is the ability to speak English important in this field of study?
English is important as Nilai UC’s syllabus is completely in that language. For those who need brushing up, perhaps he or she can join Nilai UC’s Intensive English Language Programme first. Entry requirements for Diploma in Culinary Arts is three credits in SPM.

What can school leavers looking to do Culinary Arts look forward to?
Long hours in a hot kitchen but mind you it will be in one of the biggest and best equipped training kitchens in the country (5,046sq ft featuring a pastry room, bakery, butchery, cold cut room and a Asian, Western and demo kitchens). But it will be the beginning of their exciting and never ending culinary adventure.

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