(Affiliated to Osmania University)
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Chef Sudhakar N. Rao started off with his
career as an apprentice with the ITC WelcomGroup hotels. During his
apprenticeship programme he felt the need of a professional qualification
in Hotel Management. That is when he joined the Institute of Hotel Management
Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition,, Hyderabad in the year
1986 to complete his formal education in this field. He was immediately
absorbed by the Taj Group of hotels as a Chef upon successful completion
of his 3 year diploma. By this time he had already started making his
mark in the culinary annals of India by winning numerous chef competitions.
It was only when he left the Indian Shores that his career got a major
boost. Europe, South and North America saw his career soaring high.
In the year 1991-92 he won the prestigious Inter Cruise line cold buffet
competition in Miami, Florida, U.S.A. His hard work, dedication and
culinary skills gained him acceptance into the American Culinary Federation
– the world’s most exclusive and prestigious chef organization – as
a life member, which is a rare distinction for any Indian Culinary Professional.
Chef Rao is a noted food stylist for many newspapers and magazines in
India, an active member of the world association of cook’s society and
secretary for Culinary association of Andhra Pradesh. He is the only
ACF member in culinary education in India.
On coming back to India, Chef Rao felt that the hotel management courses
conducted across India are not helping students strive for excellence
in the culinary profession. He found them broad based and not specific.
Thus, Rao felt the need for a culinary institute in India, which would
be on par with the International Culinary institutes abroad. Taking
the help of qualified chefs, culinarians and hoteliering professionals,
he formed the Paragon Educational Society which is the moving force
behind Culinary Academy of India. (formerly known as Indian Academy
of Catering Technology & Culinary Arts)
