For immediate release

Grooming the Next Crop of Private Chefs and Home-based Chefs – Over 1,100 Have Graduated from At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy’s Private Chef Programme

A total of 224 students will be graduating on Sunday, 7 February 2021

Singapore, 5 February 2021 – Private and home-based dining have been rising in popularity, a trend which has been observed by At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy to be co-related with the increasing number of students enrolled in its Private Chef Programme. Since its introduction in July 2017, the programme has seen over 1,100 graduates, with the highest student numbers totaling more than 500 in 2020.

Private, home-based dining offers the unique experience of having a customised, curated meal in the exclusive space of someone’s home. The direct, intimate interaction with the diners gives the chef an opportunity to share the passion and inspiration behind the dishes. In the recent years, the private dining scene has become more vibrant with the increasing number of home- based chefs opening up their homes for business.

Since the start of its Private Chef programme, At-Sunrice has seen a lot of interest with individuals signing up to pick up culinary techniques and skills in their leisure time. Over the course of eight days, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to be private chefs: from learning about basic hygiene, sanitisation, knife works and table settings to acquiring culinary techniques of cooking a variety of Asian and Western cuisines, as well as pastry and bakery desserts.

The COVID-19 pandemic and circuit breaker measures in 2020 has prompted many to acquire cooking skills while staying at home. During the Phase 2 opening in , many came forth to sign up for the Private Chef programme when physical lessons resumed in At-Sunrice. The SkillsFuture Singapore funding of up to 90% in 2020 and the offsetting of fees using SkillsFuture Credits, have helped subsidised the programme, priced normally at S$2,530, to an attractive rate of S$292.11.

Given the influx of sign-ups after Phase 2 opening, At-Sunrice commenced conducting additional Private Chef classes on Sundays. Added to the Sunday programming, was the demonstrations by celebrity guest chefs, including three Michelin-starred chef, Chef Bruno Menard; Five Star Diamond Award winner, Chef Sam Leong; Culinary World Cup Champion, Chef Anderson Ho; Masterchef finalist, Chef Lennard Yeong; IKA Culinary Olympics Overall Champion, Chef Louis Tay; Gold Medalist chef, Chef Eric Neo; Peruvian chef owner,

Chef Daniel Chavez; multi award winning chef, Chef Eric Low; regional corporate chef, Chef Daniel Schneider and more. Participants of the programme also had the chance to view demonstrations by At-Sunrice’s very own chef instructors and practice what they have learnt during the hands-on lessons. The novel experience of getting up close and personal with the celebrity chefs and additional culinary tips shared by the experienced chef instructors were warmly received by the students.

Celebrity guest chefs for At-Sunrice’s Private Chef: Sunday Edition

At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy Faculty Chef Instructors

Dr Kwan Lui, Founder of At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy shares, “In the past 20 years, At- Sunrice has grown from strength to strength, and we now pride ourselves to be the premier education institute for professional culinary, pastry and baking skills with full qualifications diploma programmes. However, we do not forget that the roots of At-Sunrice began as a leisure cooking school in Fort Canning Park twenty years ago in 2001. Our Private Chef programme has been a unique product offering in this arena. Given the growing market for private dining, we are glad to have contributed a part in generating interest and grooming a new crop of private chefs, equipping them to venture out with knowledge and confidence.”

Till date, 1,102 students have completed the Private Chef programme and received their certification from At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy. Of the graduates, 25% were male participants with keen interest in acquiring culinary skills.

The next Private Chef graduation will be happening on this coming Sunday, 7 February 2021 where 224 students will be attending their final lesson and receiving their certificate of achievement.

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About At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy

At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy is Singapore’s premier culinary school for culinary, pastry and baking skills and food & beverage management education. Rated the Best Private Education Institution in Culinary Arts by JobsCentral Learning T.E.D. Awards for 3 years running since 2016, At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy has been cultivating global chefs and F&B professionals in an experiential environment of culinary authenticity and best-fit apprenticeship since 2001. With an internationally diverse faculty, state of the art facilities and strong industry partnerships, the Academy delivers skills and knowledge in East and West, Old World and New World Cuisines, Herbs and Spices, Innovation and Technology.

We offer Diplomas in Culinary Arts, Diplomas in Pastry and Baking, a Specialist Diploma in food Entrepreneurship, international diploma-degree pathways, private chef classes and short Continuing Education Modules (CEM) programmes.

Our diploma students learn locally and globally with 6 months of their programme in a paid Overseas Industrial Attachment. At-Sunrice offers a seamless progression with diploma-degree pathways for 5 universities worldwide: Johnson & Wales University (America), International College of Hotel Management (Australia), George Brown College (Canada), Technological and Higher Education Institute of HongKong () and University of West London (United Kingdom).

At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy is the first culinary academy in Singapore to be awarded the National Continuing Education and Training Institution (NCI) accreditation, allowing us to administer nationally recognised diplomas offering up to 90% fee subsidies for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, and is the first culinary school to be awarded the EduTrust 4-year certification from the Committee for Private Education (CPE).

For more information about At-Sunrice, visit www.at-sunrice.edu.sg.

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