The International Centre for Culinary Arts, Dubai

It took me a while to learn the difference between cook and chef.

A cook does wonders in the kitchen, without formal training of techniques and cuisines. A chef does wonders in the kitchen, with formal training of techniques and cuisines.

I never really wanted to be a chef, not till a couple of years ago anyways.

What changed? My love for French cuisine and technique 🙂 and language.

Interestingly though, while half of me wants the Chef’s whites and hat, the other wants to be seated behind a desk discovering the links between history and culture and food. That half wants to know more about agriculture and commerce and all the rest.

And those two shock me. For one, I never thought I’d come this far with my love for food; for two, when I left Liverpool, I swore I would never go back to University. Never say ‘never’, aye?

Anyways, after my tour of the ICCA facilities, set in the Knowledge Village, I’m thinking again.

We toured the kitchen with its ten (10) stations where various things were going on – Chef plating a seafood salad, students preparing for a party, a class making what looked like stock – on account of the huge pot being stirred, and lots more.

Both sides of the ‘kitchen’ walls were lined with equipment and refrigeration units – chillers, freezers, etc I saw huge stand mixers and industrial had ones, plates of all colours and sizes and my heart leapt.

But of course, cooking isn’t all about the ‘glam’ and the fancy cookware and dishes – it is also about prepping and cleaning and putting away, so of course, we stopped over to view this area where many a practical begins, and ends.

And now, I’m thinking. Of doing this cooking thing.

Maybe next  year, maybe the year after, who knows? We’ll see.

I left savouring the thought, and memories of Zafran tea enjoyed in the school’s cafe.

ICCA Dubai

Dubai Knowledge Village Main Gate

United Arab Emirates

Telephone: +971 4 457 8811

Website: http://www.iccadubai.ae/[wpurp-searchable-recipe]The International Centre for Culinary Arts, Dubai – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]