THE Institute of Culinary Excellence is Australia’s first registered training organisation to offer a vegan cookery qualification.

Director Alison Taafe, who has cooked for Queen Elizabeth and two US presidents, has introduced Certificate II in Hospitality (Kitchen Operations) using only plant-based foods.

She said Alejandro Cancino, Urbane co-owner and executive chef, a vegan at home but not in his work, came to her with the idea.

“He said ‘why can’t we professionalise vegan and vegetarian chefs, why can’t we offer them professional training without … meat and dairy’,” she said.

She agreed and Mr Cancino now teaches the course.

“He’s one of the best young chefs in the world,” she said.

“I’ve got one of the best chefs in Brisbane here teaching.”

She said ICE had grown from eight students to 200 in two years with campuses in Coorparoo and Logan, with a Gold Coast campus in the works.