Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Faculty of Tourism, Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department students continue to reap the rewards of their quality education by gaining success at international competitions. EMU Faculty of Tourism, Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department students attended the 15th International İstanbul Gastronomy Festival which took place between the 2nd and 5th of February 2017. Under the coordination of EMU Tourism Faculty Master Chef Hakan Açıl and academic staff member Kurtuluş Özbaşar, the students completed the competition with important achievements just like the year before.
The team comprising of Damla Lisaniler, İbrahim Kızıltaç and Halil İbrahim Kalaoğlu finished third, obtaining the bronze medal in the category of “Best University Team of the Year”. Meanwhile in the individual competitions Dervişe Adal and Buğçe Cesur obtained the silver medal by coming in second in the “University Level Main Course Dish Competition”. İbrahim Kızıltaç who competed in the same category finished third obtaining the bronze medal. Finally, Efe Gencay was awarded the Special Merit Award for the “University Level Restaurant Plated Sweet Competition”.
EMU Tourism Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç noted that the festival was organized in line of the standards determined by The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS). The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS) is a global network of chefs’ associations containing associations from 86 different countries, dedicated to maintaining and improving of the culinary standards of global cuisine through education, training and professional development of its international membership. Prof. Dr. Kılıç also noted that the EMU’s Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts was awarded WACS accreditation and that students will be presented with WACS certificates upon their graduations.
Noting that alongside the Tourism and Hospitality Management Department, the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department is rapidly increasing its education quality and reaching international standards, Prof Dr. Kılıç stated that the EMU Tourism Faculty will continue its investment to academic and physical infrastructure in accordance with the vision of the Rector’s Office. Prof. Dr. Kılıç concluded by noting that they will continue to produce educated chefs for the tourism sector in line with the increasing popularity of the field of gastronomy.
