Tante Marie Culinary Academy Opens The Doors To Its New Look Premises
The prestigious Tante Marie Culinary Academy today opens the doors to its new state-of-the-art premises in central Woking. The relocation to Alexander House marks a new era for the Culinary Academy, offering cutting-edge facilities covering 8,000 square feet including a demonstration theatre, eight professional training kitchens, lecture rooms and a fully-functioning training restaurant ‘The Restaurant at Tante Marie’ opening to the public in the spring.
Britain’s first independent cookery school has been setting the standards in training culinary talent for over sixty years and its alumni are established globally as leading figures in the hospitality industry today. Former students include Lyndy Redding, founder of Absolute Taste, TV chef Harry Eastwood, Neil Rankin, founding member of the Pitt Cue restaurant concept as well as John Salt and The Smokehouse, two recent Professional Masterchef finalists – Oli Boon and Ryan Stafford, and Dubai TV chef Paul Frangie to name just a few.
Commenting on today’s opening, Tante Marie’s Managing Director and Principal, Andrew Maxwell said: “We are thrilled to open the doors to our larger and more impressive facilities. We have really exciting plans for the further development of the Academy that will not only enhance our courses and qualifications, but will also offer applied experiences for our students through their work in the training restaurant.
“Our professional courses and Cordon Bleu Diploma qualification have put Tante Marie on the map as a leading international cookery school. It has been the spring board for thousands of chefs who are now running successful businesses and enjoying careers in food and gastronomy around the world.
“We are looking forward to welcoming diners to our restaurant this spring to experience for themselves the very best that the graduates of Tante Marie Culinary Academy have to offer in terms of skill and service.”
The fully-functioning training restaurant will be the first to offer a brand new professional qualification, the ground-breaking ‘CTH Level 5 Diploma in Culinary and Hospitality Management’ which will be delivered through a programme of workplace based training. The apprentices will learn about all aspects of running a successful hospitality business through direct involvement with The Restaurant at Tante Marie, gaining essential skills and knowledge for those wishing to set up their own business. Alongside the new professional diploma, Tante Marie is also set to extend its range of Lifestyle and Gap Year cookery courses.