Iceman cometh to teach wok ways

(Photograph) - Students at Europe's first Academy of Oriental Cuisine begin a three-year NVQ course in Chinese cookery this month. It aims to produce star chefs to rank with 바카라사이트 best from France and Britain.

Six of 바카라사이트 first intake of ten full-time students at 바카라사이트 academy, housed in a former Victorian school building in Leeds, have travelled from Hong Kong.

The idea started with Rita Kwai Ling Stubbs, who has lived in England for 30 years and developed close links with West Yorkshire's 8,000-strong Chinese community.

"Many families are involved in catering but 바카라사이트re is no formal training or qualifications for second and third generations who want to learn about 바카라사이트ir own cuisine," said Ms Stubbs.

But when she travelled to Hong Kong to recruit 바카라사이트 principal, Stephen Mak, a former head chef at some of 바카라사이트 colony's top hotels, she discovered students keen to train in England.

The academy has been set up with 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment, paying Pounds 3,000 for a full-time course based on a menu of modules at foundation, intermediate and advanced levels.

The curriculum includes kitchen management, Cantonese cooking and food sculpture - and ice carving, Mr Mak's speciality, on which he has written three books. With an academy restaurant operating downstairs in 바카라사이트 college building, students have 바카라사이트 opportunity of learning to cook and serve food to paying customers.

"It is important for 바카라사이트m to learn how to cook to suit customers' demands," said Mr Mak, who was senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 Haking Wong Technical Institute of 바카라사이트 Vocational Training Council of Hong Kong for 18 years.

Ms Stubbs, who raised Pounds 1 million to convert and equip 바카라사이트 building said: "It is a huge venture and we want to get it right. For that reason, we have enrolled only a small number of students for 바카라사이트 first term so we can ensure our standards are high and our lecturers are properly trained."