Institute of Culinary Arts - ICA

Institute of Culinary Arts - ICA 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.

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS 5: CHARACTER IS FORMED IN THE KITCHEN
05/10/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS 5: CHARACTER IS FORMED IN THE KITCHEN

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: CHARACTER IS FORMED IN THE KITCHENThere are things that can be taught in a classroom. There are t...
01/10/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: CHARACTER IS FORMED IN THE KITCHEN

There are things that can be taught in a classroom. There are things that can be taught through demonstration. And then there are things that can only truly be understood through experience. Industry placement is where many of those lessons begin.

The early mornings. The long shifts. The pressure of service. The exhaustion. The shared meals. The quiet conversations at the end of a demanding day.

Resilience develops when a chef faces something difficult and discovers that they can get through it.

Click on the link in our comments to read the fifth article in our Mentorship Matters series: Character Is Formed in the Kitchen.

🧑‍🍳 The Chef’s AlphabetG - GastriqueA classic French preparation combining caramelised sugar and vinegar to create a bal...
30/09/2026

🧑‍🍳 The Chef’s Alphabet

G - Gastrique

A classic French preparation combining caramelised sugar and vinegar to create a balanced sweet-and-sour reduction used to complement rich or fatty dishes.

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: FROM FIRST PLACEMENT TO LAST
28/09/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: FROM FIRST PLACEMENT TO LAST

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: FROM FIRST PLACEMENT TO LASTAn ICA student arriving for their first industry placement is not the...
25/09/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: FROM FIRST PLACEMENT TO LAST

An ICA student arriving for their first industry placement is not the same student who will arrive for their second or third.

They may wear the same uniform, but their skills, confidence and understanding of professional kitchen life should have changed. And so should the way they are mentored.

The goal is not to keep the student comfortable. The goal is to help them grow!

Read the fourth article in our Mentorship Matters series: From First Placement to Last: How Mentorship Changes as Students Grow via the link in our comments.

24/09/2026

🇿🇦 Happy Heritage Day!

Our South African Cuisine day is always a fun highlight for our first-year students, who dress up in proudly South African attire and spend the day exploring the flavours, ingredients and dishes that reflect our diverse culinary heritage.

From samoosas, stiff mieliepap and koeksisters to waterblommetjiebredie, biryani and stokbrood, it is a celebration of just how unique our South African food culture really is.

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: NO SUCH THING AS A TASK TOO SMALL
21/09/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: NO SUCH THING AS A TASK TOO SMALL

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: NO SUCH THING AS A TASK TOO SMALLProfessional kitchens are built on thousands of small things bei...
17/09/2026

⚜️ MENTORSHIP MATTERS: NO SUCH THING AS A TASK TOO SMALL

Professional kitchens are built on thousands of small things being done well. To someone unfamiliar with a professional kitchen, some of these tasks may appear mundane. To a student in training, they can be lessons in disguise.

Because although the task may be small, the lesson is not.

Excellence is developed through doing the ordinary, excellently.

Read the third article in our Mentorship Matters series: No Such Thing as a Task Too Small, and discover why every task matters in culinary training.

Click on the link in our comments for the full article.

⚜️ ICA × Curry W**es CollaborationAs part of a recipe development collaboration with Curry W**es Südafrika-Weinversand, ...
16/09/2026

⚜️ ICA × Curry W**es Collaboration

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

This Pan-fried trout with citrus salsa and naartjie and curry leaf dressing was developed, styled and photographed by Media Communication student Leala Tele, with Keermont Terrasse White Blend 2022 selected as the w**e pairing by Professional W**e Studies student Monray van der Heyde.

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

**es

⚜️MENTORSHIP MATTERS: ANOTHER CLASSROOM
14/09/2026

⚜️MENTORSHIP MATTERS: ANOTHER CLASSROOM

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Institute of Culinary Arts - ICA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category