# India's French Cooking Schools Fuel Fine Dining Growth

> Indian students enroll in French culinary schools to boost fine dining sector.
- Title: India's French Cooking Schools Fuel Fine Dining Growth
- Summary: Indian students enroll in French culinary schools to boost fine dining sector. Indian students are training at French cooking schools to meet rising demand…
- Keywords: india, french cooking schools, fine dining, ecole ducasse, vatel, gurugram, culinary training, chefs, michelin stars, fusion cuisine, news, world
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/life/2026/10/24/india-stirs-up-its-gastronomy-with-french-cooking-schools-to-feed-growing-appetite-for-fine-dining/240291
- Published: 2026-10-24T07:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: india, french cooking schools, fine dining, ecole ducasse, vatel, gurugram, culinary training, chefs, michelin stars, fusion cuisine, news, world
## French cooking schools in India
Indian students enroll in French culinary schools to meet rising demand for fine dining in the country.
## Ecole Ducasse training director
Aabhas Jain, director of bakery and pastry training at Ecole Ducasse, says students have greater ambitions in this profession today than ten or fifteen years ago.
## Growing fine dining sector
India's rising middle class and economic growth fuel demand for skilled chefs in high-end hospitality.
## Vatel campus expansion
Vatel's Indian campus in Gurugram has around 120 students, many from modest backgrounds, with tuition fees lower than Ecole Ducasse.
## Student chef aspirations
Siddhant Marwah aims to open his own restaurant in India using French techniques, while Amitabh Sukhwal plans to study in France before opening a hotel in India.
## Gender balance in training
Ecole Ducasse reports near parity in gender ratios, with 60 percent women and 40 percent men in culinary training.
## Fusion cuisine trend
Anusha Nagia hopes to open a restaurant in India and earn a Michelin star by blending French and Indian cuisines.
## Culinary techniques shared
French and Indian cuisines share techniques like braising, blanching, and slow cooking in stews, as seen in dishes such as goat nihari.
## French vocational schools
France is considering opening vocational schools in Puducherry, a former French colonial port in India's southeast.
## Student enrollment trends
Ecole Ducasse has over 600 students, mostly from affluent backgrounds, while Vatel has around 120 students, many from modest backgrounds.
## Career opportunities
Employers in five-star hotel chains expect high standards from graduates, with many students planning to remain in India after training.
## Key takeaway

Indian students are training at French cooking schools to meet rising demand for fine dining in the country.