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Monday 09:00 - 16:30 Tuesday 09:00 - 16:30 Wednesday 09:00 - 16:30 Thursday 09:00 - 16:30 Friday 09:00 - 16:30

Institute of Culinary Arts - ICA

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At the Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) we cultivate chefs who breathe inspiration and innovation into the culinary world.

Welcome to The Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA), South Africa’s leading training school for world-class chefs. Based in the famous Stellenbosch winelands, the ICA is internationally acclaimed for producing capable and industry-ready professionals of the highest calibre. Our comprehensive and specialised training is based on classic gastronomic principles, coupled with innovative thinking and creative flair. There has never been a more exciting time to enter the international culinary fraternity. The hospitality industry is experiencing record growth and South Africa is a particularly popular destination. Food itself is also being taken a lot more seriously - not only have we seen the rise of celebrity chefs, there is also a growing public interest in quality ingredients and local flavours and cuisines. There are numerous fantastic career opportunities, each promising to be equally rewarding and inspiring. Start your own catering company or restaurant, work in product development, hospitality management, the wine and beverage industry, or even food writing and photography. Whichever direction you decide to pursue, the ICA will prepare you for the challenges of this energetic and demanding industry, promising you a shining career in the culinary arts.

30/10/2026

⚜️ ICA × Curry W**es Collaboration

As part of a recipe development collaboration with Curry W**es, ICA third-year students created a collection of seasonal recipes, each paired with a South African w**e.

This Boerewors-spiced braised short ribs with roasted winter root vegetables was developed, styled and photographed by Media Communication student Charné Strauss, with Van Loveren African Java Pinotage 2025 selected as the w**e pairing by Professional W**e Studies student Monray van der Heyde.

📌 Full recipe available via the link in our comments.

**es

28/10/2026

⚜️SHAPING THE FUTURE: A LEGACY STILL IN MOTION

South Africa's finest restaurants were recently celebrated at the JHP Gourmet Guide Plate Awards, and we applaud our ICA alumni among the chefs who are shaping South Africa's finest kitchens.

But a chef's journey cannot be reduced to a percentage or a number. Nor can the impact of a culinary education be captured in a single awards evening.

There is something bigger to celebrate ...

Thirty years ago, the ICA set out with a clear ambition: to train world-class chefs. We think it is now safe to say: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

When an industry grows in excellence, when more world-class chefs emerge and when the standard of culinary achievement continues to rise, we celebrate the very future we set out to create.

Setting a benchmark was never about standing still at the top. It was about raising the bar … and continuing to raise it. We are proud of every chef who carries the ICA name into their kitchens, leads their teams, challenges conventions and creates extraordinary dining experiences. It is part of a legacy built on the belief that culinary education should never settle for what has already been achieved.

To every ICA alumnus recognised at the awards: congratulations. You remind us why the pursuit of excellence must never stop.

And to every other chef honoured at the awards: congratulations on helping to raise the bar for South African cuisine.

Here's to the chefs who lead, the industry that keeps evolving, and the next generation who will take excellence further still 🥂. Our biggest gratitude goes to the for honouring our South African chefs each year. Make sure you read the full Guide via the link in our comments.

26/10/2026

🧑‍🍳 The journey to becoming a chef is shaped over time.

At the ICA, students develop their culinary skills through hands-on training, building the confidence, knowledge and practical experience needed to succeed in the professional kitchen.

2027 Applications are still open. Apply now via the link in our comments.

23/10/2026

⚜️ WHAT DOES “BEST” REALLY MEAN

For 30 years, the Institute of Culinary Arts has pursued one goal: to train excellent chefs to the highest possible standard and prepare them for a global culinary industry.

Along the way, the ICA has earned international and national recognition, our lecturers have been honoured for their expertise, and our graduates have gone on to make their mark in some of the world's most demanding areas.

We are proud of these achievements.

But we believe recognition matters because of HOW it is earned.

Read the full article via the link in our comments to discover what excellence in culinary education really means to us.

21/10/2026

⚜️ ICA × So Natural Collaboration

As part of a recipe development collaboration with So Natural, our third-year students created a collection of original recipes showcasing the brand’s range of honeys, nuts, nut butters, dates, oils and beverages.

This Pomegranate-cured yellowtail with macadamia labneh and Cape Malay pickled fennel was developed, styled and photographed by Media Communication student Timothy Subjee.

📌 Full recipe is available via the link in our comments.

19/10/2026

🧑‍🍳 First-year training at the ICA includes emulsified sauces such as hollandaise, mayonnaise and beurre blanc. These preparations teach students the importance of method, temperature control and consistency in sauce work.

16/10/2026

Almost at the Summit - The Culmination of Years of Learning, Growing and Becoming a Professional Chef

Somewhere between the first nervous day at the ICA and the final examination briefing, three years have quietly disappeared. Our final-year students are almost at the summit! ⛰️

The journey has included new skills, long days, unexpected detours, mistakes, little victories and plenty of moments of growth. Along the way, knowledge became skill, skill became confidence, and young people with potential were shaped into capable, forward-thinking future chefs.

Now, as they prepare for their final examination project and thesis submission, it’s time to trust their training, trust their skills and take those last few steps.

To our seniors: we are cheering you on!

And to our first- and second-year students: keep climbing. Your summit is coming too.

Read the full article via the link in our comments.

14/10/2026

🍋 Seasonal ingredients are an important part of understanding food, and sometimes that learning starts just outside the kitchen.

Our recent lemon harvest is a simple reminder of the connection between where ingredients grow and how we use them.

12/10/2026

MENTORSHIP MATTERS 6: MORE THAN AN INDUSTRY PARTNER

08/10/2026

MENTORSHIP MATTERS: MORE THAN AN INDUSTRY PARTNER

Every ICA industry partner and chef mentor provides something valuable, but the relationship between the ICA and its industry partners can mean much more than providing a placement position.

The ICA provides the academic foundation. The culinary industry provides an environment in which students can experience that knowledge in practice. Mentors help students navigate the gap between knowing something and being able to apply it consistently in a professional environment.

Mentors become part of their education.

To every mentor who takes the time to explain, correct, challenge, encourage and guide: You are not simply supervising a student. You are helping to shape the future of our industry.

Click on the link in our comments to read the final article in our Mentorship Matters series: More Than an Industry Partner.

Address

Farm Calenick, Zevenrivieren Road
Stellenbosch
7612

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 16:30
Tuesday	09:00 - 16:30
Wednesday	09:00 - 16:30
Thursday	09:00 - 16:30
Friday	09:00 - 16:30

Telephone

+27218851414

Website

http://www.icachef.co.za/

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