Disciples Escoffier x Towngas Cooking Centre
First Graduating Class of the Disciples Escoffier Diploma in Culinary Arts Outside of France
Graduation Dinner of 100th Years Royal French Cuisine
(Hong Kong, 17th August 2015) Disciples Escoffier, is a professional culinary diploma course in Hong Kong, launched first time in 2014 in partnership with Towngas Cooking Centre (Towngas”) to offer course in traditional French cooking. After nine months of intensive training, Disciples Escoffier and Towngas proudly announced the first graduating class of Disciples Escoffier. Students are issued the “Disciples Escoffier Diploma in Culinary Arts” (“Grand Diploma”) today, which is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education. This is the first time Disciples Escoffier issues the Grand Diploma in Asia. With Grand Diploma, Students are granted the qualification to pursue as a professional cook or open restaurants in France.
Disciples Escoffier course was launched in September 2014 in Hong Kong. The course is organized into three levels, structured into Basic, Intermediate, and an Upper levels. The course offers training of basic foundation knowledge of French cooking, including professional knife handling, French culinary terms, hygiene and safety in the kitchen, handling of ingredients and dish plating. “Le Guide Culinaire” (a cooking guidebook), published by Auguste Escoffier, is used as the culinary textbook for this programme. The course offers training of practical use and theories in cooking. During the program, students have had the chance to interact with a number of culinary professionals, including some Michelin-star chefs. Students have also interned at prestigious French restaurants in Hong Kong, such as Amber (Landmark Mandarin Hotel, 2* Michelin, Asia’s Best 50 Restaurants) and Caprice (Four Seasons Hotel, 2* Michelin).
An examination for the Upper level course was held on August 2. Students were asked to complete two French dishes selected by the French Ministry of Education and finish them within a designated time. Culinary skills judges include Chef Serge Robin and Chef Pierre Bardet specially invited from France for this programme. A “Level 5 Certificate of training in French Cuisine” was issued to students completed the examination.
Students, including celebrity student Joey Leung will each prepare a traditional 10-meal French course which will be served to guests at the Disciples Escoffier Graduation Dinner which will be held later today. Dishes are selected from a Disciples Celebration Menu with 100th year’s history. Students will perform dishes range from Foie Gras, lamb, truffles and assorted traditional French desserts.
Mr. Peter Wai Yee Wong, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Utilities Business of The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd. says, “As the biggest cooking centre in Hong Kong, Towngas Cooking Centre has been promoting flame cooking culture for years. We are happy that our partnership with Disciples Escoffier was a huge success and we are extremely proud to have trained up a group of high qualification French cook in Hong Kong.”
Due to the popularity of the programme, Towngas will be launched the fifthbatch of Grand Diploma porgramme. Please stay tuned with us for the updates viawww.towngascooking.comfor further details!