Kitchens around the world are looking for a few good chefs, and a Montreal school is hoping to teach them.
L'institut de tourisme et d'hotellerie will be holding several open houses and information sessions for would-be chefs this month, with the next being Monday afternoon.
The school says it is looking for people who are passionate about cooking and serious about wanting to make working in a restaurant a career.
That means an eventual career of working nights--and until then learning how to choose, create and present dishes.
Instructor Pasquale Vari said students will get a soup-to-nuts mastery of the kitchen during their time at the school, but are not expected to already be top-notch chefs.
"They're going to learn basics in cooking: knife skills, cooking, cutting, serving," said Vari.
Instructors at the school say they are paying attention to the widespread cultural cachet attached to haute cuisine and culinary appreciation, and will make sure students are equipped for an international career.
"We follow what's happening in the industry, we follow what's happening locally in Quebec but also internationally, so our students will be learning cooking methods, cooking techniques, presentation, something that's very up to par," said Vari.
The new top chef program at the ITHQ begins in September and will last two years, accepting 62 students per semester.
Other programs launching soon include service and sommelier training, hotel management, and pastry making.
