Western India Culinary Association
The Western India Culinary Association (WICA), a body of professional chefs wasformed three years ago after the need for such an association was realised in the wake of several failed attempts to start one. The primary aim of the association is to provide a platform for chefs to interact with one another, away from the work environment.
The WICA is affiliated to the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA) as well as the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS). The WICA has co-hosted several culinary contests, including The Great Indian Culinary Challenge with Express Hotelier, the National Culinary Challenge at the India Food and Wine Show and the Nestle-sponsored Young Star Chef Contest for its youth wing. It has also planned a series of workshops, demos and field visits for the young chefs of the Association.
In February this year, a youth wing, Y-WICA, was launched to include student members as well as entry-level employees. The objective is also to encourage the chef?s profession among students of various hotel management and catering institutes, promote Indian cuisine domestically as well as overseas and, thus, place India on the culinary map of the world.
The Association is 300-member strong and the youth wing has about 75 members. These numbers will soon double as the membership drive gets going. The Association is also planning to reactivate its website shortly.
Membership to the WICA is open not only to hotel employees but also to those working in other segments of the food industry such as flight kitchens, restaurants, clubs and otherfood service operators, even academicians.
