A culinary school for all
After opening its doors in February 2016, Silver Spoon Academy is aiming to grow into one of the country's biggest culinary institutions.
“In Namibia, we only see waitressing, cooking and hosting as a job – not as a profession,” said Tom Mutavdzic, owner of Silver Spoon Academy in Windhoek.
Mutavdzic feels that in Namibia, hospitality is still a growing industry.
It is one of the many economic sectors that play a big role that contributes to gross domestic product and tourism and hospitality is probably one of the most dynamic, colourful and intricate, as it touches every part of life and truly has become “everyone's business”.
“When people think of hospitality, they only think of hotels, lodges and restaurants.
“Hospitality is more than that. What about the mines, hospitals and other facilities that require the care of our people?” asked Mutavdzic.
Hospitality is an important element in every country's industry, hence the need to increase awareness of this important sector, as well the educating and making sure all Namibians are well equipped and skilled to enable them to become part of it.
Tourism truly is a cross cutting sector and is one of the Namibia's fastest growing industries, providing significant employment opportunities at all skills levels and offering income and benefits well beyond the areas directly linked to tourism and hospitality.
Industry demand
According to Mutavdzic, about 1 000 chefs are needed in the country and only a few are qualified.
“Most established hotels and lodges in Namibia provide training on the job, but it is not the easiest thing to execute,” explained Mutavdzic.
With Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy, their main focus and end is to enhance culinary education and training in the tourism related areas at grassroots level with the existing tourism workforce and build more effective partnerships as set out in the Tourism Human Resources Strategy 2011.
Privately owned by Mutavdzic, who has 42 years experience in the hospitality business and also plays the role of being a lecturer at the institution; he started his career in South Africa and furthered his education in Switzerland for seven years.
“I started out as an army chef and I basically grew up in this industry.
My father owned a hotel in Otavi so these are things I am well experienced with.”
He was the managing director of the Canyon Hotel for 21 years and is a director of the Lüderitz Nest Hotel.
In addition, Mutavdzic is also a founder member of HAN (Hospitality Association of Namibia) and chairman for three years.
Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy offers different courses ranging from certificates and diplomas in restaurant management and becoming a chef.
They also offer domestic cooking classes for those who would like to work on their cooking skills at home.
“A lot of money is spent on the buildings on these training institutions, but not enough is spend on educating our people,” explained Mutavdzic.
The school is also affiliated to Chef MLK School of cooking in South Africa, which is City and Guilds approved.
“City and Guilds is an international qualification. We made sure to establish this partnership with them as it is recognised internationally and we do not want to limit our students. With this affiliation, our students will be able to get employed from anywhere around the world,” he said.
Legacy
Mutavdzic explained that it was always his father's dream to open up a culinary school and with hard work and determination, the dream came alive.
“To join us, you do not need a grade 12. As long as you can read and write English and have the right dose of enthusiasm and will to succeed,” he added.
Martin Shipanga, a 21-year-old chef student, says he enjoys his time with the institution and he cannot wait to see what the future holds.
“Since I started here, I have learned different cooking styles and cuisines from all around the world, from Chinese, Arabic and Italian,” Shipanga explained.
Growing up, Shipanga witnessed his grandmother experiment with different fruits to make jams. “My love of food started to grow as I was always fascinated with the way my grandmother cooked different meals,” he added.
For his future plans, Shipanga would like to work in Doha, Qatar or in Dubai as he would like to make sure he works he gains world class experience.
“I am very happy with our teaching style as we do more practical activities and less theory. It makes the lesson so much fun and the two compensate each other very well,” he further explained.
Service is key
The initiators of Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy are aware of the ever-changing and increasing demands of the international travel market in terms of service levels and gourmet and cuisine experience on their journeys.
The school ensures that the Namibian tourism industry is equipped with suitably trained staff to meet and exceed the expectations of all travelers, both local and international, covering traditional, international and trendy cuisine. Mutavdzic also warned future students that culinary schools are not glitz and glamour.
“Most of our students think that cooking is like what they see on these international television shows. We teach our student chefs that you have to start from the total bottom and then only you can work your up to the top. A senior head chef can tell you to wash the pots and clean the oven and this must be done,” he said.
The aim of this educational institute is to train students for their future careers in the field of hospitality and tourism in Namibia. With the main purpose to provide education to students in Namibia, the academy's wish is to branch out to other parts of the country and educate future world class chefs, born and bred in the motherland. Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy is situated in the Old Power Station in Windhoek.
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
Mutavdzic feels that in Namibia, hospitality is still a growing industry.
It is one of the many economic sectors that play a big role that contributes to gross domestic product and tourism and hospitality is probably one of the most dynamic, colourful and intricate, as it touches every part of life and truly has become “everyone's business”.
“When people think of hospitality, they only think of hotels, lodges and restaurants.
“Hospitality is more than that. What about the mines, hospitals and other facilities that require the care of our people?” asked Mutavdzic.
Hospitality is an important element in every country's industry, hence the need to increase awareness of this important sector, as well the educating and making sure all Namibians are well equipped and skilled to enable them to become part of it.
Tourism truly is a cross cutting sector and is one of the Namibia's fastest growing industries, providing significant employment opportunities at all skills levels and offering income and benefits well beyond the areas directly linked to tourism and hospitality.
Industry demand
According to Mutavdzic, about 1 000 chefs are needed in the country and only a few are qualified.
“Most established hotels and lodges in Namibia provide training on the job, but it is not the easiest thing to execute,” explained Mutavdzic.
With Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy, their main focus and end is to enhance culinary education and training in the tourism related areas at grassroots level with the existing tourism workforce and build more effective partnerships as set out in the Tourism Human Resources Strategy 2011.
Privately owned by Mutavdzic, who has 42 years experience in the hospitality business and also plays the role of being a lecturer at the institution; he started his career in South Africa and furthered his education in Switzerland for seven years.
“I started out as an army chef and I basically grew up in this industry.
My father owned a hotel in Otavi so these are things I am well experienced with.”
He was the managing director of the Canyon Hotel for 21 years and is a director of the Lüderitz Nest Hotel.
In addition, Mutavdzic is also a founder member of HAN (Hospitality Association of Namibia) and chairman for three years.
Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy offers different courses ranging from certificates and diplomas in restaurant management and becoming a chef.
They also offer domestic cooking classes for those who would like to work on their cooking skills at home.
“A lot of money is spent on the buildings on these training institutions, but not enough is spend on educating our people,” explained Mutavdzic.
The school is also affiliated to Chef MLK School of cooking in South Africa, which is City and Guilds approved.
“City and Guilds is an international qualification. We made sure to establish this partnership with them as it is recognised internationally and we do not want to limit our students. With this affiliation, our students will be able to get employed from anywhere around the world,” he said.
Legacy
Mutavdzic explained that it was always his father's dream to open up a culinary school and with hard work and determination, the dream came alive.
“To join us, you do not need a grade 12. As long as you can read and write English and have the right dose of enthusiasm and will to succeed,” he added.
Martin Shipanga, a 21-year-old chef student, says he enjoys his time with the institution and he cannot wait to see what the future holds.
“Since I started here, I have learned different cooking styles and cuisines from all around the world, from Chinese, Arabic and Italian,” Shipanga explained.
Growing up, Shipanga witnessed his grandmother experiment with different fruits to make jams. “My love of food started to grow as I was always fascinated with the way my grandmother cooked different meals,” he added.
For his future plans, Shipanga would like to work in Doha, Qatar or in Dubai as he would like to make sure he works he gains world class experience.
“I am very happy with our teaching style as we do more practical activities and less theory. It makes the lesson so much fun and the two compensate each other very well,” he further explained.
Service is key
The initiators of Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy are aware of the ever-changing and increasing demands of the international travel market in terms of service levels and gourmet and cuisine experience on their journeys.
The school ensures that the Namibian tourism industry is equipped with suitably trained staff to meet and exceed the expectations of all travelers, both local and international, covering traditional, international and trendy cuisine. Mutavdzic also warned future students that culinary schools are not glitz and glamour.
“Most of our students think that cooking is like what they see on these international television shows. We teach our student chefs that you have to start from the total bottom and then only you can work your up to the top. A senior head chef can tell you to wash the pots and clean the oven and this must be done,” he said.
The aim of this educational institute is to train students for their future careers in the field of hospitality and tourism in Namibia. With the main purpose to provide education to students in Namibia, the academy's wish is to branch out to other parts of the country and educate future world class chefs, born and bred in the motherland. Silver Spoon Hospitality Academy is situated in the Old Power Station in Windhoek.
TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA
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