Looking to cook? A globally renowned culinary school is coming to Thailand to help aspiring chefs sharpen their kitchen talents.

 

École Ducasse, the culinary school founded by French chef Alain Ducasse, is set to debut in Thailand at the beginning of 2022, starting with a studio in Nai Lert Park.

 

École Ducasse is a network of schools that was founded in 1999 by Ducasse, the pioneering chef known for his Michelin accolades. Ducasse’s restaurants around the world collectively hold 20 Michelin stars. That includes his restaurant in riverside luxury mall Icon Siam, Blue by Alain Ducasse, which was bestowed a star in the latest Michelin guide to Thailand.

 

The school is rooted in the French culinary and pastry arts, offering academic courses that celebrate the heritage of the timeless cuisine. It will launch in Bangkok with École Ducasse Studio, a sub-brand that offers courses ranging from beginner to advanced level.

 

The Bangkok branch will sit within the century-old tropical gardens of Nai Lert Park, occupying nearly 1,000-sq-meters of space. It will also mark the start of a broader rollout in Thailand that will see the expansion of École Ducasse Studios and the opening of other campuses over the next few years, all of which are intended to develop homegrown fine dining talent.

 

The arrival of the culinary schools plays into official efforts to advance Thailand’s food scene, an increasingly important source of revenue for the country.

 

Over the past decade, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has thrown its eggs into the food tourism basket. The agency has brought in the Michelin guide, while elevating the profile of chefs like Jay Fai and anointing an “Amazing Thailand Culinary Ambassador” in American chef Andy Ricker, of Pok Pok fame.  

 

Thailand’s usual swell of international visitors spend on average 20 percent of their budget on food, according to the TAT, yielding billions of dollars in revenue.