MORE Davao culinary graduates are taking the entrepreneurial path, the Institute of International Culinary and Hospitality Entrepreneurship (IChef) said.
Arlene Ozoa, Ichef Faculty Senior High School adviser, said that around 40 percent of their graduates are now operating and managing their own business establishments and restaurants.
She said it is a welcome scenario as before the trend is, graduates are employed by companies and only a few ventured into having their own enterprise.
“We are encouraging our students to run their own business,” Ozoa said adding that some of their students are already into business prior graduation. Some of their students who are now businessmen are the owners of Daniel Pastry Company in Cabaguio, this city and Asia Walk in Matina Town Square (MTS).
She also said that they are urging their students to explore not just the Philippine cuisine but other foreign cuisine.
“We tell them that if they can, explore the other cuisines worldwide, then go back here in the Philippines, and apply all what they have learned and innovate,” she said. She added that Ichef’s curriculum includes both Filipino and foreign cuisines to give students an idea of the global culinary scene.
“Students can promote Philippines through culinary tourism, a fusion of cuisines,” she said. She also said that the making business is also made easier with the onset of social media wherein one can just simply post his products online and have customers and clients.
Ichef organized this year’s Global Skills Culinary Competition Thursday, December 8, at the activity center of the Abreeza-Ayala Mall. The event is centered on a theme: “Asean hub: delighting you with finest Southeast Asian flavors.”
Some 500 students participated in the event, wherein culinary talents were showcased. Celebrity chef Sharwin Tee, who hosts the cooking show “Curiosity Got the Chef” on Lifestyle Network graced the event and gave his inspirational message on winning the culinary world.
In its website, IChef claims to be the leader in International Culinary and Hospitality Education. It is one of the biggest and most modern hospitality and culinary school in the Philippines that provides with outstanding credentials by developing one’s culinary creativity and hospitality business skills.