Faculty

Chef David Alvarez trained in French Gastronomy and Food & Beverage service in Paris. He joined the committee for the first “Mexican Gastronomic Forum as Humanity World Heritage” in 2011, a forum dedicated to introducing and showcasing Mexican cocoa beans and chocolate art abroad.

Chef Roland Duval has worked for more than 30 years in the industry in top restaurants all over Europe, in countries including England, Norway, Switzerland, and France. As Chef Instructor at Culinary Arts Academy, his main focus is on European cuisines.

After an internship in Les Baux de Provence, Chef Cyril Cholley has worked as a Chef de Partie in many of the most lucrative restaurants in the French and Swiss Rivieras, and in countries such as Thailand, Egypt, and the UK. He spent the last 4 years working in Zurich for a production and catering company.

Chef Rando Kauge trained Swiss Gastronomy in Switzerland before going on to work as the Saucier and Mise en Place chef in a Michelin-starred restaurant. He is passionate about sustainable living and vegetarian cuisine, and shares his knowledge of the subject with Culinary Arts Academy students in teaching the vegetarian gourmet course.

Chef Sara has a cooking diploma from ALMA (Italy) and has worked in Michelin-stared restaurants across Europe (including Il Povero Diavolo in Torriana or Osteria Lucio in Dublin) and as a private chef for Hollywood celebrities. Before joining Culinary Arts Academy, she was the Executive Chef at the Clinique de la Prairie in Montreux.

Chef Axel graduated with a diploma in culinary arts from the Lycée Hôtelier Alexandre Dumas in Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France. He was a previously a Chef de Partie at the Michelin-stared application restaurant, Le Berceau des Sens at the École Hôtelière de Lausanne. Previously, he worked five years with Chef Anne-Sophie Pic at the Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne. 

Chef Chris attended Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts. He moved to Switzerland where he worked at Philippe Rochat's three Michelin-starred restaurant. After working at several other Michelin-starred restaurants in both Europe and the US, he cooked for Hollywood A-listers as an executive chef at Jack & Ben’s, a private restaurant for a top talent agency. He has won many awards, including the bronze medal at the 2021 USA Chef of the Year awards.

Chef Yann Muriset specializes in Chocolate Arts, pastry, ice cream, confectionery, and baking. He has worked for well-known brands such as Confiserie Moret and Pâtisserie Durgnat. He has also delivered several pastry masterclasses in Sweden, Dubai, India, and Switzerland.

Beginning his career as a Commis Chef in Restaurant Guy Savoy, Chef Christophe Messina then moved to Glasgow where, for 2 years, he developed his love for pastry at the Abode Hotel.  He went on to work as a Pastry Chef in various catering businesses. He participated in the opening of the Shangri-la Hotel, before turning to education, first at the Ritz Escoffier school, then at Culinary Arts Academy.

Chef Jeremy has a degree in hospitality from Ecole Hotêlière Savoie Léman, completed with a CAP in Chocolate and Confectionary. He has worked as pastry chef in Sweden, New Zealand, France, and Switzerland. He most recently worked as a pastry instructor at EHL's application 1 Michelin-starred restaurant, “Le Berceau des Sens”. 

Chef Hermann's career began as a professor of specialized translation after getting a PhD in Arabic literature at the University of Rennes in France.  His career took a completely different turn in 2010 when he completed a Certificat d’Aptitude Professionnelle (CAP) in bakery, then later in pastry, as well as chocolate and confectionary. After working as Assistant Head Pastry Chef at the Evian Resort in France, he worked for Maison Buet and Moutarlier, two well-reputed names on the local Swiss pastry scene.

Sébastien Cassagnol trained in French hospitality education, earning four degrees. He was Executive Sous-Chef under Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten in Paris and worked with Marc Haeberlin in Lausanne. His career spans 15 years as an Executive Chef in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, including at La Mamounia, awarded the world’s best hotel. He now shares his expertise at Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, mentoring future culinary professionals.  

Ms. Anastasiia Burakovskikh holds a master's degree in Wine Business from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Bourgogne, and bachelor's degrees from St. Petersburg State University in Economics and Finance and from Pierre Mendès France University. With her expertise in wine training and marketing, she teaches Wine and Food Pairing, Beverage & Mixology, Wine & Beverage Management, and Food Trends.

After studying at the New England Culinary Institute in the USA, Ms. Loren Granger became a chef. Her career shifted from the kitchen into hygiene and sanitation, then on to Logistics and Sales with Food & Beverage companies. She has been with Culinary Arts Academy since 2014 where she teaches culinary theory classes. She holds a PGD in Education from the University of Derby.

Ms. Lynda Pasmore's career in food product development and communications involved working for the British government and manufacturers of food and white goods. Moving into training and education enabled her to work in various international markets, before focusing on formal education. She holds a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma, a Certificate in Human Nutrition, from the University of Lausanne, and a PGCE, awarded by the University of Hertfordshire. 
 

Ms. Sarah Gonçalves began lecturing in 2004, before being offered a position with a social department service, in which she was responsible for internal audits, team coaching, and follow-up training. In 2011, she moved to Switzerland, working as an International Program Assistant and as a lecturer. She has been teaching Language and Communication at Culinary Arts Academy since 2014.

Ms. Tania Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Pretoria and a PGCE in Education from the Kingston University. With her expertise in sciences and mathematics and over 12 years of teaching experience, she teaches Sustainable Science for Hospitality, Business Mathematics for Hospitality, Quantitative Analysis for Hospitality Business, and Health & Nutrition.

Mr. Domenico Andrea Catanoso holds a Bachelor's degree in International Business, a Master's in Negotiation of International Projects, and a Master’s in Education from Framingham State University, Massachusetts. He spent 25 years in the airline catering industry, holding leadership roles in operations and commercial management. In 2020, he transitioned to academia, following his passion for education, and became a business and management lecturer. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

Ms. Sylvana Navarro holds an MBA in Global Management from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Northern Arizona University. With her background in banquets and events, food & beverage, as well as human resources, she has over 15 years of industry experience. She has worked at the Evian Resort and with renowned hotel chains such as Four Seasons, Starwood, Hilton, and Movenpick.

Dr. Olga Larina has over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds a PhD in World Economy and International Economic Relations from the Kyiv National Economic University, writing her thesis on the international competitiveness of regions, with a focus on the development of intellectual capital. With a strong background in economics, she teaches Strategic Hotel Management, Economics, and Public Policy.

Claire Hung holds a Swiss Diploma in Hotel Management and certifications from Cornell University, WSET, The Specialty Coffee Association, and the University of Derby. With over a decade of management experience in international luxury hotels in front-of-house and VIP departments, plus a year in the fine art industry. Since 2012, she has held various roles at César Ritz Colleges Bouveret and currently teaches Fine Dining Operations, Restaurant Service and Management, and F&B Master Workshops.

Ms. Marie-Laure Poiret holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design from the Art Academy of Utrecht. She ran her own business for 25 years before transitioning into teaching in 2009. A French native speaker and certified FLE teacher, she started teaching at Swiss Education Group schools following a License certification in Hotel & Restauration from Gastro Vaud. She enjoys sharing her passion for French language and culinary culture with students from around the world.