By Humairaa Mayet
Edited by Imaan Moosa & Tasmiyah Randeree
Ammaarah Patel, a student at the International Hotel School in Rivonia, spoke to us about her experiences in the world of the culinary arts and professional cookery.
Up until a few years ago, I did not enjoy cooking because I despised the notion that women belong in the kitchen. But after discovering the art of cooking for myself, I started noticing that it became the best form of personal creative expression.
Although the patriarchy has relegated women to the kitchen and has strongly emphasized that women are to exist within the realm of domesticity, a majority of the professionals in the world of the culinary arts and professional cookery are men.
This, in part, can be attributed to the fact that women are striving to shift away from the norms to which they have been confined, as well as to the fact that men are seen as professionals regardless of the field they are in. Women have been denied such a privilege.
Ammaarah Patel, a 22-year-old student of the culinary arts and professional cookery, spoke to To EmpowHER about her experiences as she embarks upon her journey to chef-dom at the International Hotel School (IHS) in Rivonia, Sandton.
Having completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in Accounting at the University of the Witwatersrand, Patel turned her focus to her one true passion — cooking — and made a decision to pursue the culinary arts in a professional capacity.
Every single day I am excited by fresh experiences. I enjoy being able to live and experience different cultures through their food.
Patel enjoys cooking more than anything and although it is both fun and fulfilling, cleaning up afterward is neither, but still worth it.
Ammaarah Patel spends her weeks at the International Hotel School (IHS) in Rivonia. Photo: Provided.
The bitter cold of winter is made bearable only by hearty foods, and Patel’s favorite dishes of the season are soups, curries, and anything infused with tonnes of flavor. Although Patel cannot pick which dish is her favorite of all, she has said that Asian foods are the way to go.
The culinary arts are undoubtedly a creative outlet for all those involved, as well as Patel herself.
One of the many tantalizing dishes Ammaarah Patel has crafted. Be sure to check out her Instagram account! Photo: Provided.
Spreading her creative wings and using cooking as a manner of expressing herself, Patel feels as though she has been granted a sense of artistic freedom. She now sees the world of culinary arts and professional cookery as her oyster — never before has she experienced such difficult albeit fulfilling creative challenges.
Funny enough the stereotype that women belong in the kitchen does not always mean the same thing in the culinary world that is male dominated. Similar to other industries, a lot more can be done to improve this.
Women need to be empowered within the realm of the culinary arts. This can be done by placing women in positions of authority which could have a trickle-down effect. Women must be granted the same privileges as men in order for the culinary arts to be transformed.
Another issue of prevalence in the field is that of pay — Patel explains that the amount of effort put in by chefs is not recognized when they are allocated a salary. Like all other professionals, chefs are highly trained and deserve adequate remuneration for the work they do.
According to Ammaarah, the cost of pursuing a career in the culinary arts is exorbitant and thus a difficult venture for those from previously and currently disadvantaged groups.
Moreover, many who enter the world of culinary arts and professional cookery do not know what they are signing up for. Patel says the admission stage leaves much to be desired and students who find themselves in the deep end often struggle to stay afloat.
There is much more to cooking than what meets the eye. Such as cleaning, costing, and the intense high pressure working environment.
In the years to come, Patel hopes to make positive contributions to the culinary arts. She believes that the field can be bettered by opening it up to women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and Muslim and other marginalized groupings within the culinary arts.
Ammaarah Patel is incredibly passionate about what she does. Photo: Provided.
Patel would like to work as a chef in restaurants around the world and perhaps open her own restaurant one day, should the stars align.
Follow Ammaarah Patel on Instagram:
Ammaarah Patel is, without a doubt, everyone’s favorite plant mom. She enjoys dabbling in fashion and dyeing her hair in different colors.
When she is not cooking professionally, she is cooking for herself and her friends and family.
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