Who We Are

 

SCAFA, Dubai’s School of Culinary And Finishing Arts is a full-service culinary arts training institute offering the complete spectrum of culinary arts courses.We have full-time education programmes for students aspiring to become professional chefs and advanced programmes for chefs looking to upskill their abilities. The School also offers professional courses for students seeking professional skills but lacking the time to commit to full-time education, thereby offering these individuals an opportunity to pursue their ambition.Under the expert guidance of our instructors, students will learn practical skills that will become second nature. With world-class culinary, finishing and etiquette arts training, SCAFA students learn the skills they need to deliver style, excellence in quality and sophistication.

What’s more, professional students can be placed in apprenticeships at superior restaurants or hotels locally and internationally.

SCAFA also offers courses and programmes for enthusiasts and amateurs, an outstanding programme for children, culinary-centric team building events for corporates and menu development Consulting Services for new restaurant concepts. Be it bloggers, caterers, restaurant owners, consultants, entrepreneurs, authors or food enthusiasts, SCAFA has a course to suit everyone’s needs.

Mission

At SCAFA our mission is to ensure the greatest success possible for our students on the international culinary arts stage. Every aspect of SCAFA is constantly optimized to this objective – from the caliber of our full time and visiting faculty, the content of our programmes, the equipment our students build their experience on, to the organizations that offer our students work placement. In each of these our objective is guided by the question “does this serve the future success of our students?”.

Testimonials

- Farsid, Pro Apprentice Student

"We had fun indeed! Our little angel was so curious to see the things in the kitchen when she was allowed to enter. I’m pretty sure my husband will be back there soon."

- Joana Catral, Class for 2
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"Our sincere thanks to you and all your staff for a splendid event. You understood our needs perfectly and created the ideal atmosphere. The happy chatter in the office this morning proved that we all got it just right...other than the winning team decision. It was unanimously enjoyed and will be a hard act to follow."

- James Eldridge, Senior Banker, Citi Private Bank Institutional Client Group
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Accreditations

City & Guilds

SCAFA is an Approved Centre of City & Guilds, London, and delivers the International Vocational Qualifications (IVQ) in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts. City & Guild are the leading skills development organization, providing services to training providers, employers, and trainees across a variety of sectors to meet the needs of today’s workplace.These qualifications have been developed for those working within the catering industry and cover all the main elements of food preparation as well as specialist patisserie knowledge and skills. City & Guilds certifications are recognized by employers all over the world, helping individuals develop their talents and abilities for career progression.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for the growth, direction and quality of private education and learning in Dubai. KHDA is a regulatory authority in the Government of Dubai that supports the improvement of schools, universities, training institutes and other human resource sectors. SCAFA is a KHDA regulated vocational training center and student successfully completing programmes at SCAFA receive certification that is attested by KHDA.

Crowne Plaza, Dubai

Crowne Plaza Dubai, sits in the heart of Dubai’s business district. Situated across the street from the Dubai World Trade Center, the Crowne Plaza is one of the most popular hotels in the region. SCAFA's partnership with Crowne Plaza Dubai is designed to provide students in SCAFA's Professional Apprentice programme, the practical exposure and experience needed to succeed in the bustling culinary industry.

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PHILOSOPHY

SCAFA exists for the success of its students. Our aim is not to simply be the best School, have the best facilities etc. – our aim is to align everything we do to ensure the success of our students after they leave SCAFA.

We try to achieve this objective through various means. We take a modern approach to culinary arts and therefore to our teaching. Our students learn traditional skills but are also armed with skills that foster creativity and enable innovation that goes beyond tradition. This is what we see as the great event in the culinary world over the last couple of decades and this is the phenomena we teach our students to be a part of.

To achieve this philosophy we identify and recruit outstanding instructors from around the world who then get to work teaching what we consider to be one of the best curriculums there is.

We hope that this approach will consistently deliver chefs of tomorrow destined to be successful – early evidence based upon the markets’ response to our students points to us being on the right track.

Meet The Team

Francisco Araya X

School Director

Francisco was born in Honduras, studied culinary arts at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts and obtained the Wine and Spirits Education Trustee Higher Certificate from Dubrulle Culinary & Hotel Institute in Vancouver, Canada. He also completed courses in vocational education, and leadership of educational institutions. In 2011, he achieved the Leadership Diploma from Universidad Adolfo Ibanez, one of the leading Business Administration schools in South America. During his career he has worked in Canada, England and Chile. In Chile, Francisco has opened three fine dining restaurants with ultimate responsibility from design to operations, attracting great reviews from customers and the media. From 2007-2012, he returned to his roots in culinary education and held a position as a Culinary Instructor at IP Duoc UC, teaching cooking and management courses. He rapidly rose to the position of Director of the Culinary Arts program at IP Duoc UC Valparaiso with responsibility for over 750 students, leading a team of 40 teachers. As Director he secured the highest certification from the Chilean government for the Culinary Arts Program. Having moved to Dubai in 2012, he has already accomplished so much by successfully designing and running our unique Professional Programmes as well as winning an award as the Pro Chef Middle East 2013 Training Champion. Francisco is also listed in the Caterer Middle East magazine Power List 50 (2013).

Luther Maitland X

Chef Instructor

Luther Maitland our senior chef instructor from London. Luther has gained vast catering experience from working in Michelin stared restaurants to cooking for Prime ministers and celebrities. He also is our fully qualified Tutor and City and Guilds Assessor. He has been teaching in one of London’s top catering colleges for the past 5 years.  

Shahnawaz Khan X

Chef Instructor

Chef Shahnawaz graduated from Ecole Superieure de Cuisine Francaise - Gregoire Ferrandi (Paris, France) in 2004 with a diploma in "Stage de Perfectionnement a la Gastronomie Francaise" (Programme in Perfecting French Gastronomy). Since then he has honed and developed his impressive skills working in Paris, New York and Dubai in the world’s finest kitchens including the 3-Michelin star Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athenée in Paris and other Michelin starred restaurants.

Possibly Pakistan’s most accomplished chef, it is a privilege to have him teach at SCAFA.

Eduardo Acuna X

Chef Instructor

Chef Eduardo Acuna joins SCAFA, Dubai's School of Culinary and Finishing Arts teaching professional and amateur programmes for cuisine and pastry. He has a vast range of experience in fine dining and has completed his culinary education and an exciting history of supporting students in competitive culinary competitions. Chef Eduardo has worked in the culinary profession for more than 12 years. In the last 10 years, he has worked at many different fine dining outlets in Venezuela, Barcelona and Dubai. Chef Eduardo’s was previouslt at the acclaimed La Parilla Restaurant in the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The year before his travels to Dubai, Chef Eduardo was in Spain’s much-admired “Llamber”. Llamber is a Gastronomic Tavern located in one of the most interesting places in Barcelona, with a philosophy to offer to the guests a creative gastronomy and creative "Tapas" through a fresh and high quality product, making a different way to experience the spanish cuisine in a casual and beautifull place. He continues to hone his own educational skills during his down time from school by reading, practicing new techniques and running the different sets of classes and events we have at SCAFA. As a culinary educator, he draws from his many years of culinary experience to pass along to students not only the skills for success in the kitchen but also for life. He feels those life skills are the most important things they can learn: teamwork, cleanliness, organization, respect, integrity, compassion and being able to laugh and enjoy what you are doing.

Emilly Sanchez X

Pastry Chef Instructor

Emilly attended DUOC, South America’s most prestigious culinary school which given her previous business studies enabled her to work and gain experience in some of the Mexico’s finest hotels. Her culinary experience included a position as Line Chef at Recetas de Familia Restaurant, Chile and Hotel Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort & Spa, Mexico. Emilly joined SCAFA in 2013 and has had an influence on its menu and instructs in professional finishing, pastry, cuisine and children’s cooking classes.

Rob Burns X

Chef Instructor

Chef Rob has 10 years of experience working across fine dining established across Europe and the Middle East. Chef Rob started his culinary journey at Jamie Olivers famous steak restaurant Barbecoa (London), moving later to Benugo, London for two years. He was based in exciting locations such as the Natural Museum of History & the famous Riverfront Bar & Kitchen.

He furthered his culinary journey by opening the first Real Madrid Cafe where he had the opportunity for catering for the entire Real Madrid team and president alongside Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz during the grand opening.

As a chef instructor, he chooses to impart his knowledge he has gained to students focusing on modern cuisine, meats & techniques and food service.

DIEGO TORRES X

Chef Instructor

Chef Diego Torres is the newest addition to the culinary instructor team at SCAFA. Chef Diego started his culinary journey at the University San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador where he obtained his chef title in the culinary arts after a 5 year culinary degree. At the university itself, he had helped collaborate on the gastronomic cookbook titled "Ecuador Tradiciones de Ayer para la Mesa de Hoy" which was later awarded at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards as the best cooking book in South America. He also trained and gained experience in numerous restaurants featuring different cuisines. His work allowed him to hone catering skills as well which also including running VIP catering opportunites for celebrities such as “30 seconds to Mars” and other artists. He later returned to his educational roots by running classes at the University San Francisco as a teacher with lectures focusing on garnish, garde manger, gastronomic culture and food styling. He furthered his culinary learning by obtaining a Postgraduate diploma in Advance European Pastry and Bakery in HTMi (Hospitality and Tourism Management institute) in Switzerland under the instruction of Chef Andreas Kurfurst. Just before joining SCAFA, Chef Diego was part of the culinary team for one of the biggest and most prestigious catering companies in Switzerland, Candrian Catering.

Facilities

  • Student Facilities including the campus library, WIFI, computer access, copier/printer, student dining room, lockers and changing rooms.

  • Dehydrator by Excalibur, the leading producer of Dehydrator machinery in North America.

  • Robot Coupe, the leading manufacturer in food preparation equipment, supports SCAFA to ensure our students learn on the best equipment available.

  • AFINOX Blast Chiller, designed to allow its users to substantially limit the weight loss of the product in the cooling phase.

  • RATIONAL Oven, the global leader in commercial cookery

  • The fusionchef by Julabo Sous Vide Machine, part of the premium sous vide collection, specifically designed for low temperature cooking and highly appreciated by Michelin-star chefs.

  • Scafé, the student training restaurant of SCAFA that is rated TWO HAT in the The Black Hat Guide and where students hone their skills to fine dining standards.

Accreditations

School of Culinary & Finishing Arts

  • City & Guilds

    SCAFA is an Approved Centre of City & Guilds, London, and delivers the International Vocational Qualifications (IVQ) in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts. City & Guild are the leading skills development organization, providing services to training providers, employers, and trainees across a variety of sectors to meet the needs of today’s workplace.These qualifications have been developed for those working within the catering industry and cover all the main elements of food preparation as well as specialist patisserie knowledge and skills. City & Guilds certifications are recognized by employers all over the world, helping individuals develop their talents and abilities for career progression.

  • The Knowledge and Human Development Authority

    The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) is responsible for the growth, direction and quality of private education and learning in Dubai. KHDA is a regulatory authority in the Government of Dubai that supports the improvement of schools, universities, training institutes and other human resource sectors. SCAFA is a KHDA regulated vocational training center and student successfully completing programmes at SCAFA receive certification that is attested by KHDA.

  • Crowne Plaza, Dubai

    Crowne Plaza Dubai, sits in the heart of Dubai’s business district. Situated across the street from the Dubai World Trade Center, the Crowne Plaza is one of the most popular hotels in the region. SCAFA's partnership with Crowne Plaza Dubai is designed to provide students in SCAFA's Professional Apprentice programme, the practical exposure and experience needed to succeed in the bustling culinary industry.

  • Afinox

    Students successfully completing the professional programmes will receive AFINOX Training Certificates. All SCAFA AFINOX appliance training courses are certified by the manufacturer.

  • Rational

    Students successfully completing the professional programmes will receive Rational Training Certificates. Rational is the global leader in commercial ovens and SCAFA Rational appliance training courses are certified by the manufacturer.

  • IACP - The International Association of Culinary Professionals

    The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is a worldwide forum for the development and exchange of information, knowledge, and inspiration within the professional food and beverage community. SCAFA has been a member of IACP since 2012.

  • Slow Food

    Slow Food is a global, grassroots organization linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to local communities and the environment. Since its beginnings, Slow Food has grown into a global movement involving millions of people in over 160 countries.
    SCAFA has been a member of Slow Food since 2012.

  • TSSC - Technical Supplies & Services Co. LLC

    TSSC is the foremost provider of industrial kitchen and laundry solutions in Dubai. TSSC provides complete customer care for the food service and laundry industry. From design of the facilities to installation of the wide ranging equipment required for operation and training the operators, TSSC provides a one – stop solution for SCAFA.

  • FRIMA

    The FRIMA brand has for decades represented sophisticated technology of cooking appliances in commercial kitchens. SCAFA uses FRIMA's state-of-the-art VarioCooking Center and students are given the opportunity to learn and operate the world's favorite cooking solution.