About

There is so much more to culinary school than just cooking. Launched in 2003, Capsicum’s quality of training is unrivalled in South Africa. Whether you want to be a executive chef, baker, pastry chef, caterer, or chef de cuisine, as a Capsicum Culinary Studio graduate you can look forward to many exciting career opportunities locally and internationally. 

Play in the

world you

work

At Capsicum, tradition meets innovation. Our purpose-built training facilities and talented and experienced chef lecturers provide the ideal space and support for you to nurture and develop your culinary skills. You will gain hands-on experience in the kitchen and acquire the fundamental food skills that will make you work-ready. From cafés and bistros to restaurants and hotels, to events and corporate catering, with a Capsicum qualification, you can dive into the dynamic world of hospitality and experience all it has to offer. That’s because our exclusive programmes get results for graduates.

 

Here’s what Capsicum is all about:

Why Us?

Culinary Mastery

  • Be taught by the best to be the best. You will be trained to the highest standards, making you eligible for prestigious international training and partner placement programmes. Gaining exposure to local and international top talents will give you deep insight into the industry. 


  • Being a masterful chef starts with understanding your ingredients and the diverse possibilities opened up by the cooking methods and techniques you choose. You will learn, experiment and hone your talent in world-class training kitchens with contemporary tools and equipment. 


  • Arrive passionate, stay focussed through good times and bad, and you’ll develop the flair, resilience and grit, essential for anyone who wants to succeed in the fast-paced, competitive world of cooking. Best of all, you will have the confidence that comes with knowing you are culinary master.

 Industry Preference

  • As the industry’s preferred training provider, Capsicum is in tune and aligned with the latest culinary trends, techniques, skills and innovations. We know what’s hot.


  • Because we know the sector – and more importantly, they know us – a Capsicum qualification will set you apart. Recognised, accredited, endorsed and respected by local and international industry bodies, we are actively involved in professional associations and forums, helping to shape the future of the industry and empowering our graduates to meet evolving industry demands. 


  • As a Capsicum learner you will be part of culinary networks and connected to the professionals by a two-year junior membership to the SA Chefs Association which is included in your fees.


  • During and after you have completed your studies you get great placement at top properties. Historically, 95% of our graduates are employed in the industry after qualifying.

Fuelling Passion

  • Join a community and family that’s as much about food as you are. Be inspired to grow your culinary passions, inside and outside of the kitchen, by developing skills like entrepreneurship, personal branding, self-promotion food photography and much more.


  • Take advantages of our value-added offerings like access to The Culinary Institute of America’s Lobster Ink platform, rich, immersive content that satisfies even the hungriest of minds.


  • Our passionate team of chef lecturers and industry partners are ardent  food lovers just like you. They are your teachers and from the day you enrol they are your mentors, coaches, critics, shoulder to cry on, and your biggest fans.

Industry Placement

At Capsicum, our Industry and Development Team works with hotels and other hospitality businesses across the country to ensure that you have access to the best training opportunities available in the industry. 

 

Our training partners include:

 

•          The Oyster Box Hotel 

•          The Saxon Hotel 

•          The Westcliff Hotel 

•          The President Hotel 

•          La Colombe 

•          Gemelli’s

•          The Pot Luck Club 

•          Roots – Forum Homini 

•          Butcher Block 

•          54 on Bath 

•          Palazzo

•          Belle’s Patisserie 

•          Old Town Italy 

•          Ginger – The Restaurant 

•          Blue Waters Café 

•          Protea OR Tambo 

•          Time Square – Sun Arena 

•          Fedics

•          Netcare

•          Café Flava 

•          Impact

The best way to ensure a successful placement is to meet your academic requirements, and to always stick to learner and industry codes of conduct. Knowing how to behave in the workplace means having a positive, can-do attitude, being courteous and friendly, arriving on time and being there every day. While we do our best to place learners in the establishment of their choice, this is not always possible, but having a great track record will stand you in good stead when it comes to placement.

 

As part of the industry placement process, you will be asked to prepare a CV and list three preferences on your Industry Placement Request Form. We will investigate available positions at hotels and restaurants. When placing you, we will pay attention to your interests, to the feedback we get from your lecturers, and of course to your academic progress. 

 

Industry placement offers many advantages:


  • You will put into practice the skills and knowledge learned
  • In-depth, hands-on experience in a variety of different roles
  • Insight into the world of work and responsibilities 
  • Real-world experiences of the chef and hospitality industry 
  • Experience different company cultures, systems and work practices
  • Work references for your future career
  • An insight into the wide range of career paths
  • Personal growth and independence
  • Valuable networking opportunities
  • Access to internal job vacancies at these establishments
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International Placement

Culinary skills are universal, which means you will be able to travel the world once you graduate. Whether you want to work at a remote island resort, in a 5-star hotel or on a cruise liner, your culinary qualification is the ticket you require.

 

Our graduates can be connected to international study opportunities through international partners like the Swiss Education Group (SEG), Placement International and OVC. There are additional costs for international study and placements, and these will be discussed with you at the right time.


Study Abroad

Capsicum is proud to be a steppingstone for our graduates and we will help you to further your education and complete a bachelor’s degree abroad through the Swiss Education Group (SEG) if that is your wish.

The Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAA), an internationally recognised institute for culinary education and part of the SEG Group, is a world-class institution in Switzerland that offers learners the chance to live, learn and work in one of the world’s leading countries for hospitality training. 

 

Imagine immersing yourself in the Swiss culture, language and way of life – you're bound to gain much more than just an exceptional culinary experience. Whether you choose the campus in Lucerne or in Le Bouveret next to Lake Geneva, both offer accommodation and meals, modern training facilities, and industry-leading equipment and technology.

 

Contact us for more information.

Enquire Now

Our Accreditations

Capsicum Culinary Studio’s qualifications are internationally recognised. Our accreditation means that we offer and confirm competency, authority and credibility through each of our programmes. 

The accrediting bodies we are registered with provide the curriculum requirements, as well as quality-checking our teaching and training processes while setting and assessing final external exams where applicable, alongside certifying our aligned programmes and successful graduates. 

Capsicum is registered with several industry bodies, including 
City & Guilds, a global leader in skills development; The Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality, and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA) and the Quality Council For Trades & Occupations (QCTO). 

Our Philosophy

Our commitment to excellence and world-class training is essential for learners aspiring to high-level positions in a competitive industry. 

 

Our goal is to enrich your life and empower each learner with the culinary abilities that will form a foundation upon which they can build their career as senior managers and industry leaders. In pursuit of this, our purpose-built training facilities provide a creative and challenging learning environment.

 

As culinary educators, we believe that engaged learners learn best. Because you will learn from and collaborate with experienced, talented chef lecturers who have worked in world-class establishments, and be provided with placements during your studies, you will gain first-hand experience about how the demanding professional environment operates.

Our People

We pride ourselves on attracting the best, most dedicated chef lecturers in the country who believe passionately in learning and take a distinctive international approach to culinary education.


Kemi Odubajo- Campus Head

Boksburg




Chef Chantel Williams 

Boksburg




Chef Amir Nizam

Boksburg




Chef Charne Wylie

Pretoria



Chef Mark Coombe - Campus Head

Pretoria



Chef Ayanda Mavuso

Pretoria



Chef Larozaan Van Zyl

Pretoria



Chef Ukhonaye Mconi

Rosebank


Chef John Mathi

Rosebank


Durban

Anneshree Nagan - Head of Campus

Durban



Nelson Mandela Bay

Chef Nadia Pillay

Nelson Mandela Bay


Cape Town

Chef Marlon De Freitas

Cape Town

Chef Charl Botha

Cape Town

Candice

Adams

Academic Manager


Our Partnerships

Our international partners include the Swiss Education Group (SEG), an alliance of five separate Swiss Hospitality Schools; the Business & Hotel Management School (BHMS) in Lucerne, Switzerland; Placement International, a Swiss recruitment and placement company specialising in the luxury hospitality industry; the American Hospitality Academy(AHA), the Culinary Institute of America and youth travel specialist OVC.

 

Note that further international study or placements will incur additional costs.

Registered Students Payment Portal

 If you are a Registered Student and would like to make a payment - please click below to access the payment page. Please enter your Student Number as a reference. You will require a credit card or internet banking (EFT) to make payment via this portal. If you would like to make an EFT please ensure that your card is registered for online purchases and that you have internet banking – select OZOW and your appropriate bank when making payment.


If you would like to use a credit card – please ensure that your card has been registered for the Online Payments - 3D Secure service.

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Food For Thought

Gordon Ramsay once lost to a ‘prison cook’ in an onion cutting competition!


Give this much to Gordon Ramsay, when he lost in an onion cutting competition to a prison cook he was pretty gracious. He even offered the guy a job at one of his restaurants if he wanted it. You could say whatever you want about him not meaning it but honestly when someone like Ramsay offers you a job the first thing out of your mouth should be ‘I’ll take it’. 

The "Prison Cook"

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