The food service and culinary arts industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and there are huge opportunities for well trained, enthusiastic and talented chefs as well as competent restaurant managers and food buyers.
There are also thousands of culinary universities, colleges, schools and academies where people can train. Some academic establishments specialize in culinary and other related hospitality skills, while many of the world’s top universities have culinary departments offering an education that will enable successful students to get jobs ranging from chefs or pastry cooks, to culinary managers and food stylists.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is a specialist college that offers various academic programs including a bachelor’s or associate degree in culinary arts or baking and pastry arts. With campuses in New York, California and Texas, the CIA also offers certificate programs and various courses for professionals and culinary enthusiasts who want to learn more, and simply become better cooks.
Then there are online culinary universities that also offer bachelor’s degrees. These are ideal for people who want to study part-time or for those who are already employed and want to further their careers. Like all long distance courses, online culinary degrees involve assignments which may be practical or written. Some courses also include finance, marketing and computer literacy which will help those wanting to start a culinary business or work in an existing commercial environment.
If you want to become a cordon bleu (which is French for blue ribbon, meaning top notch) chef, then consider the world’s largest hospitality education institution, Le Cordon Bleu. There are 29 Le Cordon Bleu schools, in Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, South America, Asia and Australasia. More than 20 000 students attend these schools every year. There are 18 Le Cordon Bleu schools in the USA alone. These have a contractual marketing relationship with the Career Education Corporation, a post-secondary education provider with schools in the USA, Canada, France and the UK offering both campus-based and online courses in a wide variety of subjects.
Generally, a basic culinary degree from any type of culinary school or university will teach you the full range of techniques a good chef needs to know. These include various cutting and chopping techniques, food preparation, the full range of cooking methods and garnishing skills. You will also learn about ingredients, and how to use your senses of smell and taste when you cook, and how to follow and adapt recipe guidelines. You will learn about cooking tools and equipment and how to use these, and lots more, depending on the specific course that you choose.
There are various factors you should consider before you decide on which culinary university to attend. The better the training and qualification offered, the more it is likely to cost. Generally, longer courses also offer a better training, although some short, intensive programs are excellent. You will find that many culinary universities offer bachelor’s degrees that take four years to complete, while a quick certificate program will only a few weeks or at most, a few months. The Culinary Schools site offers further reviews and information on a school by school basis.
Another factor to consider is the quality of tutorship you will get at your chosen institution. Many schools, colleges and universities employ teachers who work in the area, including well-accomplished chefs. Others do not. If you decide on an online course, you may find it difficult to work on your own, instead of interacting with other students on campus. But if there isn’t a suitable college near your home, this might mean you have to temporarily relocate.
Comments on this entry are closed.