Gourmet Cooking and Catering (Level 3) Course

Course Structure

Module 1: The Food Service Industry

• A history of modern food service
• The organisation of modern kitchens
• Food storage, handling and preparation
• Setting up a system for food safety
• The tools and equipment of professional cooking
• Basic cooking principles and methods
• The recipe: its structure and use
• Building a menu
• Techniques for producing stocks and sauces
• Understanding soups

Module 2: Preparing Main Dishes

• Composition, structure and basic quality factors of meat
• Understanding the basic meat cuts
• Cooking and handling meats
• Roasting, baking and grilling meats
• Pan-frying, simmering and braising meats
• Understanding poultry
• Cutting up a chicken
• Dressings and stuffings
• Methods of cooking poultry
• Understanding fish and shellfish
• Cooking fish and shellfish
• Cooking and handling vegetables

Module 3: Preparing Starches, Salads and Entrees

• Cooking potatoes
• Understanding rice and other grain products
• Cooking pasta and dumplings
• Types of salads and preparation techniques
• Preparing salad dressings
• Preparing sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres
• Breakfast foods and their preparation
• Dairy products, coffee and tea
• The handling and serving of cold dishes
• Hot food presentation
• Cold food presentation and buffet service
• Recipes from International Cuisine

Module 4: Preparing Desserts and Baked Goods

• Basic principles of baking
• The ingredients used in baking
• Understanding yeast products
• Dough formulas and techniques
• Mixing and production methods for quick breads
• Cake-making formulas and techniques
• Production and application of icings
• Preparing, baking and cooling biscuits
• Assembly and baking of pies
• Pastries, meringues and fruit desserts
• Creams, custards and puddings
• Frozen desserts and sauces

Module 5: Managing a Successful Catering Business

• Advantages of the catering business
• Financial and legal considerations
• On-premises catering
• Selling and booking affairs
• Developing and increasing sales
• Planning and pricing banquet menu package plans
• The various types of parties and functions
• Catering for a wedding
• The catering kitchen and related areas
• Setting up a banquet
• Volume purchasing
• Off-premises catering
• Outside services
• Computerised catering

The UK Learning College is a leading Distance Learning Provider, offering a route to study for anyone who wants to gain a new skill or qualification, but finds the traditional, classroom-based mode of study unsuitable. Distance learning is an ideal way to learn around your current time and financial commitments, no matter how diverse and unpredictable your schedule is. With UK Learning College you not only study when it suits you and in your own time, but you can be sure of receiving all the advice and support you require as your studies develop. Because of our continuous system of enrolments, Students can enrol any time of year, and our flexible distance learning courses allow students to plan their studies to fit in their life style or work commitments. All of our students have access to their own personal distance learning course tutor who specialises in their field of education and is totally committed to helping you succeed in your home learning course.