New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): The International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA) conducted a Kids Gourmet Dessert Masterclass at the Shoppers Stop outlet in Sector 66, Gurugram. Designed as an interactive, hands-on session, the masterclass introduced young participants to the fundamentals of gourmet dessert-making while encouraging creativity and confidence in the kitchen. The workshop witnessed participation from 65+ young learners. This also marked the third workshop conducted by IICA at Shoppers Stop.
The session was led by Chef Dharmendra Kumar, Sous Chef, Bakery & Pastry, IICA, along with Chef Prashant Kumar, Jr. Sous Chef, IICA, who demonstrated two recipes Foxnut and Chocolate Rocks, and Fruit Trifle with Eggless Sponge. The chefs simplified techniques to make gourmet concepts accessible and engaging for children.
The workshop was attended by Gandharv, Customer Care Associate & Marketing Manager at Shoppers Stop. Supporting the chefs during the demonstration were IICA students Gyan Vrat Arya (Bakery Student) and Aryan Jha (Culinary Student), who gained practical exposure through the session. At IICA, such immersive workshops are designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry expectations, preparing students for real-world challenges.
Chef Virender S. Datta, Founder, International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), said,
“Workshops like these play an important role in introducing young audiences to culinary creativity in an engaging and interactive manner. Such initiatives not only encourage early interest in the culinary arts but also help create memorable experiences for participants, while enabling brands like Shoppers Stop to meaningfully engage with their customers through unique, hands-on activities.”
Arjun S. Datta, Managing Director & COO, International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), added,
“Collaborations like these provide an effective platform for organisations such as Shoppers Stop to enhance customer engagement by offering interactive culinary and pastry workshops. These experiences help create stronger connections with their audience while bringing a unique experiential dimension to retail environments.”
For those looking to begin a career in culinary or bakery arts, registrations are open for the July ’26 batch at IICA’s Hauz Khas campus, offering structured training under experienced chefs with a strong focus on practical learning and industry exposure. The programmes also open pathways to global work opportunities for graduating students.
Founded in 2005 by legendary chef and hospitality industry veteran Virender S. Datta, with over five decades of global experience, IICA is among India’s earliest institutions to introduce internationally benchmarked culinary education. It combines structured kitchen training with globally recognised qualifications from City & Guilds (UK) and BSI Learning (Australia), offered exclusively at IICA. Strengthening its global footprint, IICA has expanded through international collaborations, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Kyoto Culinary Art College and Kyoto Pastry & Bakery Art College, Japan, under the Taiwa Gakuen Educational Corporation. The partnership enables faculty and student exchange, joint curriculum development, and cross-cultural culinary pathways between India and Japan.
