By: Van Soul Addey
Ghana's culinary landscape
will take centre stage on August 29 as the third DCS Culinary Expo brings
together chefs, hospitality professionals, students, food entrepreneurs and
enthusiasts to explore innovative ways of presenting Ghanaian cuisine through
modern culinary techniques.
Organised by Dainess Chef School (DCS), the Expo will take place on
Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS),
Accra, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is free to enter the event grounds but to
participate in the demo, it comes at a GH¢50 per demo or GH¢150 for all seven
(7) demos.
Kindly register via this link https://www.dainesschefschool.com/ticket to be
able to participate and learn from the best chefs when it comes to the latest
culinary skills. Also, for more information you can call 0550670769 and or
0205470456 or email info@dainesschefschool.com.
Participants shall receive a certificate of participation.
With
the theme ‘Culinary Innovations: A Ghanaian Perspective’, the event seeks to
promote Ghanaian cuisine through technical excellence, creativity and
innovation while showcasing the versatility of
indigenous ingredients through contemporary culinary techniques inspired by
global standards.
Principal
of Dainess Chef School, Pamela Sarkodee, described the Expo as a melting pot of
industry professionals brought together to share knowledge, exchange ideas and
develop advanced technical skills in cooking and pastry.
Unlike
previous editions, this year's Expo will shift its focus from recipe
demonstrations to practical culinary techniques that participants can apply
across a wide range of dishes. "We are not teaching recipes. We are
teaching skills. We realise that our patrons and partners are all industry
professionals, so coming with recipes defeats the purpose of application.
Teaching a skill allows for a wider application versus teaching a fixed
recipe," Ms Sarkodee explained.
Participants
will be introduced to advanced culinary methods including spherification,
gelification, edible glass-making and oil extraction, techniques commonly used
in modern gastronomy and fine dining. Among the highlights will be demonstrations
on creating caviar through spherification, producing edible glass for pastry
applications, and harnessing the natural starch in plantain through
gelification to create gel sheets for a refined presentation of gobɛ (beans and
plantain).
Elevating
Ghanaian ingredients for global audiences
The
demonstrations will feature indigenous ingredients such as kontomire, plantain
and beans, illustrating how traditional
Ghanaian flavours can be elevated through Afrofusion and contemporary culinary
techniques without losing their authenticity.
According
to Ms Sarkodee, the objective is to challenge conventional perceptions of
Ghanaian cuisine by demonstrating that local dishes can meet international
culinary standards through technical innovation and creativity. "We want
to portray our cuisine in a way that defies what we have known to be the
stereotype when it comes to the expectation of what it looks like. We are
looking at the food industry internationally, where technicality, advancement
in skill and molecular gastronomy are important. Can we play at that table? By
all means, we can," she said.
She
added that Ghana's culinary story extends well beyond its internationally
recognised jollof rice.
Food tourism
and hospitality dev’t focus
Beyond the demonstrations, the Expo will also feature discussions
on food tourism and sustainable food systems, highlighting the growing role of
cuisine in promoting Ghana's tourism and hospitality sectors. A keynote presentation on ‘Promoting Sustainable Food
Systems in Ghana’ will headline the programme, alongside discussions on
culinary innovation, food tourism and the future of Ghanaian cuisine. Also,
celebrity chef and content creator, Chef
Abby will give a talk on her origin story, from content creation to food
tourism.
GTA endorsement
The Expo has
received the official endorsement of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), which
says the initiative aligns with its mandate to promote sustainable tourism
development and position Ghana's diverse culinary heritage as a key tourism
product. In its endorsement, the Authority
noted that culinary tourism plays an important role in showcasing Ghana's rich
cultural heritage, strengthening the tourism value chain, creating employment
opportunities and positioning the country as a preferred tourism destination.
The Expo is
being organised in partnership with the Chefs Association of Ghana, Food and
Drugs Authority (FDA), Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and
Training (CTVET), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Ghana Food Movement, Marriott
Hotel, Café Bar Noir and White Restaurant.
Representatives from these organisations and
establishments will deliver demonstrations and presentations, providing
participants with practical insights into contemporary culinary practice and
hospitality excellence.
The DCS
Culinary Expo is expected to provide a valuable platform for chefs, caterers,
hospitality professionals, students and aspiring culinary entrepreneurs to
sharpen their technical skills, exchange ideas and discover innovative ways of
presenting Ghanaian cuisine for both local and international audiences.
Organised by Dainess Chef School (DCS), the Expo will take place on
Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS),
Accra, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It is free to enter the event grounds but to
participate in the demo, it comes at a GH¢50 per demo or GH¢150 for all seven
(7) demos.
Kindly register via this link https://www.dainesschefschool.com/ticket to be
able to participate and learn from the best chefs when it comes to the latest
culinary skills. Also, for more information you can call 0550670769 and or
0205470456 or email info@dainesschefschool.com.
Participants shall receive a certificate of participation.
