Hyderabad:

The food bug has bitten Old City’s youth. With Hyderabadi food gaining prominence, several youngsters are opting for careers in hotel management, particularly in food production (cooking) sector. And catering to this demand are the several hotel management institutes that have cropped up across the city in the past few years.

The Centre’s Institute of  Hotel Management (IHM) has been conducting four short term courses lasting between six and eight weeks, branded “Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (from skill to employment). According to the institute’s management more than 30 per cent of its participants are from the Old City. The demand is the highest for food production where more than two thirds are from this part of the city. Interestingly, one third of the candidates are women.

Most students who attend short term courses in the several institutes in the city have completed only matriculation. Some have not finished schooling as well. Explaining the penchant for culinary arts among Hyderabadis, noted educationist Zafar Javeed said that it is the availability of opportunities in the hospitality sector that is drawing many youngsters today. “Hyderabadi food, the Biryani and in recent past the Haleem, have gained immense popularity in and around the city which in turn has resulted to the mushrooming of several restaurants. The demand for cooks has thus increased. Being good at skill based tasks, youngsters from the minority community are making use of these opportunities,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / November 05th, 2012