Province trains chefs to boost Cantonese cuisine

Guangdong province, known for its culinary style both at home and abroad, believes Cantonese cuisine will serve up brighter employment prospects.

The Guangdong Department of Human Resources and Social Security said in a statement that it has started a program this year to train chefs in the specialty.

Guangdong will invest more than 20.8 billion yuan ($3.06 billion) to help unemployed people find jobs this year, with priority given to training Cantonese chefs, according to the statement, which was published on the department's website on Monday.

In addition to stabilizing the province's job market, the Cantonese cuisine chefs will promote their food style and South China culture across the country and the rest of world, it said. Trained chefs are encouraged to start their own businesses, it added, noting that Cantonese chefs are now working in many hotels and restaurants.

"In addition to helping residents find jobs and increase their incomes, the program will help promote the development of Guangdong's rural economy and play a role in helping residents in rural areas get out of poverty," said Yang Hongshan, deputy director general of the social security department.

Traditional Cantonese cuisine, including roast goose, boiled sliced chicken and steamed fish, have become major attractions for tourists from outside the province.

Wu Yingmin, a Cantonese cuisine chef in Guangzhou, said it was not difficult for such a chef to get a job in the city.

"Most of the restaurants with Cantonese cuisine as major attractions usually enjoy brisk business," he said, adding that many people like to have dinners and parties with family members, relatives, friends and colleagues at local restaurants during festivals and holidays.

According to the government, Guangdong has 147 professional and vocational colleges and schools that offer courses in Cantonese cuisine and are teaching more than 56,000 students.