K-Chef Talent Development Programme

A collaboration between Hanwha Group (South Korea), Reliance College & Falcon TVET

By Joash Pandita

Nurturing Future Culinary Stars

The Hanwha Group of South Korea has embarked on a mission to identify and nurture top culinary talents worldwide through its K-Chef Talent Development Programme. This ambitious initiative, tailored for Hanwha Group's Hotels & Resorts, kicked off with a successful induction training session on June 25th and 26th at the Reliance College Industrial Training Kitchen.

Led by the esteemed Mr. Jaihyun Choi, General Manager, F&B Division, Hanwha Hotels & Resort, the two-day induction training session focused on basic skills assessment and cultural orientation. This being the first phase out of three, aimed to lay the foundation for the participating aspiring chefs, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge.

Five talented students were selected to participate in this exclusive programme, marking the beginning of their journey toward culinary excellence.

The Overview

Day 1 was dedicated to introductions, basic skills assessments, and cultural orientation. The modules included:

  1. Program Overview
  2. Basic Knife Skills Assessment
  3. Ingredient Identification
  4. Simple Cooking Test
  5. Cultural and Team Orientation
  6. Basic Language Assessment

On Day 2, the focus shifted to advanced culinary skills and team collaboration. The modules for the day were:

  1. Advanced Cooking Test
  2. Problem-Solving Scenarios
  3. Menu Development Exercise
  4. Feedback and Review

The Menu

Heads of Departments and staff from the BAC Education Group were invited for a food tasting session which featured a diverse menu, showcasing the participants' skills:

  • Sushi rice
  • Radish and Chinese cabbage kimchi
  • Miso soup
  • Beef Bulgogi
  • Hot and spicy tteokbokki
  • Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles)
  • Yachaejeon (Korean vegetable pancakes)
  • Sigeumchi namul (blanched and chilled spinach seasoned)

The Testimonials

With delights such as these, both staff and students gave raving reviews:

"The beef was tender and flavorful. The kimchi had a nice kick of spice to it; the vegetables could be smaller for bite size. Tteokbokki had a good sauce. Pancakes had a nice texture; I prefer them to be a bit crispy."
Sapna Kaur, Head of Postgraduate Studies (Law)
"Food was good & it was a very healthy meal. Everything was nice. I loved the dish with the glass noodles, pancakes, mojito, tteokbokki, and the kimchi. Beef bulgogi was yummy! Very healthy vegetable side dishes. It was great to taste all of this!"
Team of Counsellors

A Bright Future with Esteemed Partners

This collaborative effort between K-Chef Talent Development Programme, Reliance College and Falcon TVET is just another step toward a greater vision.

During his visit, Mr. Jaihyun Choi evaluated the quality of services and facilities at Reliance College and was highly impressed. His positive feedback will contribute to Reliance College's potential appointment as the Malaysian Chapter of KFPI, marking a significant milestone in the college's journey.

As the programme progresses, the culinary world can look forward to witnessing the rise of new talents, trained and nurtured through the K-Chef Talent Development Programme, making their mark in Hanwha Group's esteemed Hotels & Resorts.

Special thanks to Mr Jaihyun Choi, who is also the lead trainer and talent recruiter, who will be playing a pivotal role in the programme. The Korean Food Promotion Institute (KFPI), a non-profit organisation established in March 2010, who also sponsored the programme, covers the expenses for Korean chefs to provide global culinary training.

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