Chefs off to train in India

TWO Royal Hotel trainee chefs have left Durban for India's holiday mecca of Goa. Third year trainees Robin Carr and Simon Budd will be working as personal chefs to Dr Vijay Mallya, owner of India's United Breweries for the next four months. In addition to showing off his own skills, Carr is hoping to learn more about Indian cooking and wants to bring back a Tandoori oven on his return. Budd and Carr have spent time in each of the Royal Hotel's nine kitchens, including that of Ulundi Restaurant. They'll be accommodated in staff housing of the Indian millionaire and will be coached by other personal chefs to Mallya. The initiative is part of an international exchange programme organised by the International Hotel School (IHS). The trip was organised in conjunction with Jaishankar Ramchandran, the South African representative for United Breweries, that owns three of the 34 properties managed by the Three Cities Hospitality Group, of which the IHS is a division. (Corin Baker)