Study Guide: Culinary Arts & Hospitality Management in Malaysia

Do you love the art of cooking and dream of running a great restaurant? Or does managing and catering an event for 1500 people sound appealing? If you are wondering which path better suits you, what you're really mulling over are the differences between a culinary arts program of study and a degree in hospitality management.​ While both prepare you for working in similar places of employment, the jobs that each degree qualifies you for are different.

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WHAT IS CULINARY ARTS?

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Culinary Arts involves is the science and art of menu planning, meal preparation, and food service management. Whether you are preparing food for a niche French café or an event for 500, there are basic skills you will need to be efficient when handling various types of foods and preparing dishes for your customers and patrons.

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Within the field of Culinary Arts, there are various fields, which are:

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• Culinary arts: Deals with preparing different food and cuisine, with some exposure to pastry and baking.

• Pastry and baking: Specialises in the professional preparation of pastries, cakes and baked goods, sometimes known as patisserie.

• Culinary management: Deals with managing F&B and kitchen operations, with some exposure to basic culinary arts.

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WHAT IS HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT?

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Hospitality Management is the study of hospitality industry such as overseeing the administrative task of a hotel and improving guest experience in Malaysia. Students will be taught on skills to effectively and efficiently carry out the relevant roles they are assigned with such as overseeing the reception desk, managing restaurant operations, management, and many more at the workplace.

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Within the field of Hospitality Management, there are various fields, which are:

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• Food Service Management: Relates to operations for a Food and Beverage (F&B) business, involving areas such as planning and purchasing supplies, food hygiene and production, and food service delivery.

• Event Management: Involves planning, managing and executing large scale events, such as festivals, conferences, ceremonies, formal parties, concerts & conventions.

• Accommodation & Hospitality Management: Relates to the handling of accommodation establishments, such as hotels and resorts. It covers areas such as reservation, housekeeping and guest service.

• Tour & Travel Management: Relates to the management of travel and tour industries, such as airline and cruise, as well as holiday tours.