Metro

Saturday November 7, 2009

The perfect mix for excellence


THE Horeca School of Excellence (HSE) kicked off the second term of the year recently with another four-week long training programme designed for employees of local food and beverage (F&B) outlets.

Patrons to the participating outlets are not exempted from the fanfare.

Taking a leaf: Dhasan ‘Golffy’ Prabhananda caps off a bar trick in style, challenging trainees in the earlier HSE term.

Following the success of HSE’s signature ‘Bar Nights’ featuring a cast of internationally acclaimed bartenders who double up as trainers in the programme, in this term, expect to see international deejays competing for equal attention.

Formed in 2006, the twice-a-year HSE programme’s key objective is promoting “excellence among F&B employees”.

The vibrancy of the local F&B industry provides the perfect platform for the trainers to share their experience and know-how with HSE participants.

They also help to ensure that the programme’s content remained relevant to industry demands.

In its fourth year, this year’s final term aims to provide training to about 550 service personnel from 40 of the most popular F&B outlets in Malaysia through flexible one-day modules, covering the entire array of skills that are essential to service staff – from gaining an appreciation of the history of famous beverages to salesmanship and communication skills.

The HSE programme is not limited to front-line crew but has modules specially designed for more senior service personnel.

“Mini-Bar Nights” is also a new initiative introduced this term, providing an added opportunity for trainees to feature their own cocktail concoctions alongside those of the trainers.

To be held from Nov 10 at selected outlets, Bacardi-Martini Malaysia, a partner of the HSE programme, aims to increase the awareness of its portfolio among participants and consumers at large.

The Bar Night, which is the largest event of this term’s programme is scheduled for Nov 20 at Maison, Heritage Row.

International trainers who will feature this term are Kelli K. Barnett, Chanond Purananda, Dhasan (Golffy) Prabhananda and Maya Samuelsson.

With each trainer having at least seven years of working experience, many of them now own (or co-own) famous entertainment or training centres.

At the end of the course, HSE participants will attend a graduation party, with the highlight of the night being the Mixology contest.

Here, bartenders will put their newly- acquired beverage knowledge, mixing and preparation techniques and creativity to the test, aiming for the coveted title of ‘Best Mixologist’.

Top students and outlets will also be awarded with certificates of recognition, trophies and cash prizes.

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