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About ICE

Institute of Culinary Excellence (ICE) is a world class, award winning culinary and hospitality school in Brisbane, Queensland.

Expert Tuition

Join us at The Institute of Culinary Excellence (ICE) to gain skills and experience in commercial cookery under the expert tuition of our trainers, assessors and guest master chefs. We provide a holistic approach to training and assessment, combining engaging and informative theory lessons with hands-on kitchen demonstrations and practice. We have world-class training kitchens and state of the art classrooms.

Food Tours

ICE students also have the opportunity to visit local food businesses, manufacturers, markets and farms to gain an insight into where our fresh local produce is sourced from.

Benefit From Our Network

Brisbane offers a warm subtropical climate with a casual relaxed demographic and feel. It also has some excellent award-winning dining establishments. ICE has a wide network of local restaurant and hotel partners who work with us to provide tuition, work placement and sponsorship to the school.

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Our Visionary Beginning

In 2013, Alison and Steve Taafe had a dream of opening a culinary school that was different from the rest. Their vision was to create a school where students could come to learn in a comfortable, encouraging, supportive and inspirational environment. The vision was for ICE to become a ‘culinary family’ and they succeeded.

Students instantly become part of their ‘ICE Family’ and are often heard saying they have found their culinary home at ICE. Even when they leave after qualifying, they are always welcomed back at any time for any reason. And they do come back too!

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Training Awards

In 2018 and 2021, ICE was named the Small Training Provider of the Year in Queensland and a finalist in 2024. It was such an honour to win this prestigious award.

Everyone associated with ICE was so humbled and overwhelmed with excitement. All the staff were so grateful that their hard work and perseverance had been recognised and had paid off.

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Compliance with Australian Quality Training

The AQTF or VET Quality Framework is the national set of standards which assures nationally consistent, high-quality training and assessment services for the clients of Australia’s vocational education and training system.

The audit is published below to assist apprentices, trainees, and their employers in making informed decisions regarding their selection of a Pre-qualified Supplier for the delivery of training and assessment services.

View Audit Report

Benefits

We Do Things Differently

Bridging The Gap

ICE continually bridges the gap between traditional TAFE based learning to more current, adaptable, reactive and modern training for the 21st century.

Small Classes, no one left behind

ICE believes in keeping classes small so no one is left behind. Teachers can dedicate more time to ‘one on one’ training with smaller numbers. We all believe in inclusive teaching for every one of our students. We will literally train anyone, of any age, any country, any religion and from any walk of life to be the very best version of themselves.

Flexible Start Dates

Our continual rolling enrolment system means you can start training with us as soon as possible. There is no huge wait to train with ICE, we’ll get you started immediately. We are ready when you are and we will endeavor to get you started immediately if we can!

Tailor made and Personalised Training Plans

Our approach at ICE is to tailor make and individualise each training plan to suit the employer and the apprentice. ICE has a unique and fresh way of offering a blend of ‘on the job’, ‘off the job’ and ‘college based learning’ for each individual, depending on their needs.

Charity

ICE supports local charities such as Eat for Your Life, Fair Share, Jigsaw, Your Town, Stepping Stones, Second Bite and others as often as we can.

Sustainability

At ICE we have a sustainability awareness that runs through all our classes and endeavours. We have a large garden where we grow our herbs, flowers, citrus fruit and indigenous ingredients and a good composting system which the students love.

ICE Student of the Year Award

We offer our chef students the opportunity to win the annual ICE Student of the Year Award. Our winner goes overseas on a culinary trip of a lifetime. Previous winners have staged at the number 1 restaurant in the world: Eleven Madison Park (Michelin Starred). In 2023, we added 2 more Michelin starred restaurants, The Ledbury and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Pushing the boundaries

We continually push the boundaries at ICE and deliver our training in a modern, innovative and exciting way. Our programs include excursions to off-site farms, markets, factories, and local producers. View a gallery of our food tours.

Enjoyable Learning Environment

At ICE, we take pride in looking after our students and clients. Students become part of the ICE family when they start studying with us. We have created a relaxed, friendly and inclusive learning environment that is current, professional, and enjoyable for everyone. We guarantee to work hard to help our students achieve their career goals and become qualified chefs. Just ask our students! Read more about our school.