Vinesh Johny

33 / Bangalore, India

When Vinesh Johny became passionate about pastry after graduating in hotel management at Christ University in Bangalore, he discovered that specialised baking courses simply didn’t exist in India. Rather that pursuing his training abroad, as many of his contemporaries were doing, he set about creating a permanent solution to the issue.

Founded in 2012 by Vinesh alongside Avin Thalliath and Lijo Chandy, the Lavonne Academy of Baking Science & Pastry Arts in Bangalore is India’s first specialised international baking school. Through it, Vinesh dreams to turn pastry arts into a mainstream career choice in India and to make the country a top destination for those looking to pursue baking and pastry as a passion or profession.

Offering a range of courses from the full-time Diplôme de Pâtisserie for committed learners to weekend classes for amateur bakers, the academy has considerably improved national pastry art standards and has inspired a host of other schools to open across the country. By offering its students the opportunity to study management and entrepreneurship, it is giving young pastry chefs the tools they need to fund myriad innovative businesses. And with its practical learning programme hosted at the Lavonne Student Café, it is empowering a new generation of pastry talent who won’t have to leave the country to receive the highest standard of culinary education – and thus make their sweet dreams come true.

“Nurturing young talent in our industry by giving them practical and hands-on experiences in the area of culinary arts, baking, pastry making, cooking and even sustainable methods of sourcing produce is of paramount importance.” – Vinesh Johny