Indian Culinary Forum (ICF), the regional association of professional chefs affiliated to Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), will support the Annual Chandiwala Hospitality Ensemble, a national level culinary competition of students from hotel management institutes across the country organised by Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (BCIHMCT) in New Delhi. This was announced by Chef Davinder Kumar, President, ICF while inaugurating the 11th edition of the competition in New Delhi today.
He asked the organisers to make the ensemble broader in terms of participation and themes in future.
In his inaugural address, Kumar said that career opportunities in the hospitality sector are really increasing and hospitality professionals are very much in demand not only in hotels and restaurants, but also in hospitals, corporate kitchens, industrial catering units, etc. “What the industry is looking for is specialisation. In this world of cut-throat competition only best talent can survive, others will be off the track,” he said. Personality development is very important in the hospitality sector. “Right attitude, etiquettes, communication skills, personality are important traits, which would help you go up in the industry. It is important how you carry yourself,” he further said.
Kumar urged upon the hospitality students as well as the faculty to keep a track of the rapid changes that are happening in the industry, especially in the culinary trends. Preparing food is both an art and science. Molecular gastronomy, mixology, etc. are nothing but science, he added. Reminiscing the training systems 40 years ago, when he was a hospitality student, Kumar said that they solely depended on the faculties for information. With the growth of communication technology, students have other avenues as well to gain knowledge.