Meet Chef Leonardo Du Bruyn. He graduated from the François Ferreira Academy in 2011 and is now the proud co-owner of Meade Café, a sophisticated restaurant in George, Western Cape, South Africa.
He tells us more about why he chose to become a chef, the most important thing he has learned during his time at the Academy and what it is like to study at the François Ferreira Academy.
This is what Nicolas Cope had to say about his first industry internship at the Cafe Gannet situated in Mossel Bay, under the guidance of Chef Gareth. The Francois Ferreira Academy feels that practical experience is very important and that is why we insist on a 6-month industry internship with all the courses that we offer. Placements will be arranged by the Academy to make sure our students receive the best mentorship from top establishments.
Michelle De Jager is busy with a Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking, at the Francois Ferreira Academy. For her industry internship, she was placed at the well-known Cafe Gannet situated in Mossel Bay and she is currently gaining more practical experience at ReedValley. Earlier this year Michelle won the Jeune Chefs Rotisseur competition assisting her with a bright future ahead. She had the following to say about her time at the Francois Ferreira Academy.
Meet Elrico Plank, he started with the NYCTP(National Young Chefs Training Programme) in 2017 which is sponsored by the Department of Tourism and SACA. Hi is in his 3dr and final year which is based on teaching and improving his Patisserie skills. Listen to what he had to say about his culinary journey.
Riaan Van Der Merwe is currently doing his first industry internship at Serendipity restaurant situated in Wilderness. He enrolled for the 3 Year Full-time Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking. This programme offers a National qualification(QCTO) and International qualification(City&Guilds).
She has always had a passion for food and wanted to know and learn more about Culinary Art. So she decided to learn from the best and enrolled at the Francois Ferreira Academy. Due to having kids and a busy lifestyle she decided that the Part-time Learning Diploma suited her the best. This is what she had to say about her time at the academy.
Lian Du Plooy enrolled for the One Year Certificate in Culinary Arts at the Francois Ferreira Academy, this is what he had to say about his first month at FFA.
Brandon Kiewiets enrolled for the 3 year Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking qualification.
Throughout the duration of the 3 year course, students will study a highly specialised field of Culinary Arts, focusing on the integration of knowledge from theory to practical, and of in-depth knowledge of food preparation and cooking, as well as workplace components of kitchen operations and culinary practice.
Listen to what Brandon had to say about his firsts few months at the FFA.
Meet Kayla Jacobs, she enrolled for the 1 Year Certificate in Culinary Arts programme.
This course covers the knowledge of food preparation and cooking on a skills level. Students will obtain the knowledge of how to prepare and work with ingredients for entry level in the kitchen.
She would like to share her first month experiences with you.
Jean Piere Kriek completed his Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking in 2017 and relocated to Qatar where he is now a Chef de Partie at Concorde Hotel-Doha.
Devorah Lindiwe Brandt completed her Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking as well as a Advance Diploma in Patisserie and is making the Francois Ferreira Academy proud by being the Head Chef at the Merchant Café in Mosselbay.
In 2014, Chef Cheri-Lynn enrolled on the Cater Care programme at the Francois Ferreira Academy, which was sponsored by the Garden Route District Municipality. She qualified at the top of her class, and was awarded an internship and bursary from the FFA, where she obtained her Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking as well as an Advanced Diploma in Patisserie. After qualifying, she was employed as a lecturer at the FFA, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2019. A remarkable journey!