Monthly Archive for May, 2009

Vegetarian & Kosher Culinary Schools Do Exist

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on May 29, 2009
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Vegetarian and Kosher Culinary Schools

vegetarian culinary school

Most people think there are two types of culinary school: baking schools and culinary arts institutes. In the former, students learn how to bake and make desserts; in the latter, students focus more on cooking meals and running a restaurant.

However, in today’s culinary education field, there are more options than ever before. If you want to specialize in classic French cuisine, you may want to attend Le Cordon Bleu. If you want to work with Italian cuisine, you can travel to Tuscany and take a course on everything from sauces to pasta. And if you want to combine your personal beliefs in vegetarian or Kosher cooking, there are now schools and programs that cater specifically to you.

Most vegetarian and Kosher schools focus on traditional techniques in preparing foods. In vegetarian cuisine, the emphasis is often on using organic foods, raw and whole foods preparation, and nutrition. As a field, it has a good future, since healthy eating and vegetarian options are growing in popularity.

While most comprehensive culinary arts schools do offer vegetarian training, a few schools that specialize in it include:

  • Living Light Culinary Arts Institute, California
  • National Gourmet Cookery School, New York
  • National Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts, Texas
  • School of Natural Cookery, Colorado
  • Natural Kitchen Cooking School, New Jersey

In Kosher cooking, the focus is on preparing foods that conform to the rules of kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. As with vegetarian culinary school, Kosher culinary training most often occurs as part of a larger culinary school course. However, there are several notable schools in Israel as well as one of the only United States schools, the Center for Kosher Culinary Arts in New York, that you can attend for specialized training.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re seeking a culinary specialization because you’re trying to carve out a culinary niche or because you want to start a culinary career that aligns with your own dietary habits and views. Thanks to the versatility of the culinary school market, you can get the training you need to work with all types of foods: vegetable, mineral, or anything in between.

Where are the Best Culinary Schools Located?

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on May 22, 2009
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culinary studentsAlthough a good culinary education can be found in schools around the world, there are a few key areas known to be meccas for culinary arts training. In many cases, the best training occurs in metropolitan areas, where the number of restaurants and competition are high.

In the United States, some of the best places to go for culinary programs are on opposite coasts: in New York and California.

New York culinary schools are among the most recognized in the world. The city and many surrounding communities on the East Coast (including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) offer great variation in food styles, program lengths, and even career options following graduation. And because there are over 20,000 restaurants in New York City alone, its no wonder students – and reputable schools – call this place home.

Some of the more recognizable culinary school names in and around New York include:

•    Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), one of the most prestigious culinary schools in the world.
•    New England Culinary Institute, a Vermont-based school with a focus on personalized training.
•    Culinary Institute of America (CIA), a school that consistently turns out big names in the culinary world.
•    Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, which offers Le Cordon Bleu affiliated culinary programs.
•    French Culinary Institute, a New York culinary school that focuses on classical French techniques.

Of course, you don’t have to go East Coast to get a good culinary education. California is equally well-known for its quality of schools. But don’t expect the exact same kind of training. Culinary schools in New York often center on classical training; schools in California tend to be a little more modern and focused on healthy, alternative cooking styles.

•    California Culinary Academy, a the top-ranked culinary education facility located in San Francisco.
•    California School of Culinary Arts, another Le Cordon Bleu cooking school.
•    Kitchen Academy, a small a traditional classroom based culinary program.

If you don’t live in one of these “foodie” centers, or if you don’t want to pack up and move to go to culinary school, don’t despair. There are culinary colleges in every state in the United States, and big names pop up in Texas, Oregon, Arizona, the Midwest, and the South.

Going Abroad for Culinary Training

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on May 19, 2009
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Cuisine and good food are often all about the quality of the ingredients. San Francisco and Seattle are known for their seafood because of their proximity to the ocean. The South churns up spicy, time-honored foods that are part of a rich cultural history. And if you want to eat the best pasta in the world, most gourmands will tell you to hightail it er to Tuscany.

The idea of immersing oneself in another culture to experience the best cuisine is nothing new – and neither is immersing oneself in another culture to get the best possible culinary education. About fifty years ago, there weren’t that many top culinary schools in the United States. Those who wanted a good baking or cooking education went to France, which has long been hailed as the center of all things related to good food and even better culinary schools.

While going to France can still be a great way to get the culinary education you want, there are more options now than ever before. Many of today’s top chefs have spent time in cooking schools in France, Italy, the Caribbean, Spain, Brazil, Thailand, and other locations with a flair for cuisine. In fact, celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has made a career out of exploring international locations as a way to not only experience new cuisine, but to learn the secrets that have fed these cultures for centuries.

Should I Attend an International Cooking School?

The decision to attend an international culinary arts school is an important one. While it can go a long way in boosting your career, adding credentials and giving you a unique specialization, it can be costly. Many of the top French and Italian cooking schools come with high tuition costs, and moving your entire life overseas can be difficult. Many of the lesser-known regions can cost less, but you may have to focus less on traditional training through a cooking program and more on learning what you can from the vibrant, local life.

There are “shortcuts” you can consider, as well. Le Cordon Bleu offers French training in locations all over the United States. Many culinary schools offer Italian cuisine as part of their curriculum,and some of them even offering internships on an Italian campus for one or two months. Simple cooking classes can often introduce you to a new type of cuisine in just a few nightly classes each week.

No matter what you choose, remember that only you can decide your culinary future. Going overseas can boost your career, but it’s not always necessary to start it.

Competition for Culinary Schools

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on May 11, 2009
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Culinary School Students
For many aspiring chefs, culinary school is the first definitive step they take in making their dreams come true. But, how does one go about getting into the various culinary programs? How hard is it to get into your choice of culinary arts schools?
Different cooking schools and baking schools will have their own requirements for those who wish to attend. Generally speaking, however, applicants to culinary school need to have a high school diploma or a GED. The admissions department at each school will be able to explain the application process to prospective students, and they may request your transcripts and letters of recommendation.

The competition for spots in any given culinary program will also vary. The top culinary schools, like The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, the Institute of Culinary Education in New York, New York, and the Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island are going to have a much more competitive application process than your local community college. The prestige that goes along with graduating from one of these culinary arts schools helps to bolster the graduate’s resume immediately; and this alone can be enough to make these schools more attractive.

While many aspiring young chefs dream of attending these top culinary schools, it is important to remember that they are not the only place to receive an excellent education. Often, staying close to home to attend school is so much more cost effective, and if you have the talent and passion, then attending a school simply because of its name is not a necessity.On the other hand, it may be your dream to go to the French Culinary Institute, and if that’s the case, you can certainly work toward that goal.

When choosing from the various culinary programs, remember to take your own needs into consideration. Review the school’s curriculum and reputation. Pay attention to the class size and student-to-instructor ratio to ensure that you’re going to get one-on-one time. Also consider the facilities when deciding upon a culinary school. You want to use the best equipment and have the most realistic experience possible.

The duration of each of the culinary programs can also help you to narrow down your choices, as can the cost. While these are certainly important considerations, don’t overlook simple things such as whether or not the culinary colleges have been accredited by the proper organizations.

Is Culinary School Right for You?

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on May 6, 2009
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A love of food and the culinary arts is fairly common in today’s society. Almost everyone has heard the names of top chefs and top culinary schools, and an appreciation for fine food and fine baked goods means that more restaurants open up every day.

While this is good news for anyone considering culinary school, since job opportunities are only expected to increase over the next few years, the fact remains that getting a culinary education isn’t for everyone. Like any other career field, there is a pretty heavy investment of time and money that goes into that entry-level degree.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before quitting your job and moving to New York to pursue your new culinary career:

  • Do you love cooking? This includes everything from loving the ingredients and the heat of the kitchen to pleasing large crowds of people. If there’s any part of the cooking process that you don’t enjoy, you may want to consider whether you would be happy working 40 to 60 hours per week in a restaurant setting.
  • Do you enjoy working as a team? Although the head chef or restaurant owner might get to order other people around, most cooks and chefs work as part of a larger team. Unless you can work collaboratively with others, culinary school might not be for you.
  • Do you lead an active lifestyle? It might seem like a small thing, but most cooks and chefs spend 8 hours per day on their feet in a high-impact industry. While culinary school can be good “training,” it’s not always a good career for people who prefer working in front of a computer or at a desk.
  • Are you ready to make the investment? Most culinary programs last between six weeks and four years, and can cost upwards of $50,000 when all is said and done. If this is a change you’re ready to make, be sure you know what sacrifices you’ll have to make to reach that culinary finish line.

Becoming a chef can be one of the most rewarding careers out there – as long as it’s what you really want. Remember, though, that the road to chefdom is a long, hard one, and you may have to put in several years at the entry level before climbing to the top.

For a more detailed look at the question of Culinary School and is it right for you, please read our article called Is Culinary School Right For Everyone?

Where Some Top Celebrity Chefs Went to Culinary School

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on May 4, 2009
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The best route to being a successful chef usually involves getting a solid culinary education. The country’s biggest celebrity chefs are a great example of this. From the Culinary Institute of America to the French Culinary Institute, these schools have sent out some of the most famous chefs of our day. Have you ever wondered what cooking school your favorite chef attended?

Cat Cora

Cat Cora: Cat Cora has gained a lot of attention as one of the “Iron Chefs” on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America. She attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and in addition to Iron Chef America, she has co-hosted the Food Network’s Kitchen Accomplished. She has also put her cooking school education to work by co-founding the charity Chefs for Humanity.

Rocco DiSpirito: This famous celebrity chef also intended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. DiSpirito has won the James Beard Award for one of his four cookbooks, as well as being named as “American’s Best New Chef” by Food and Wine Magazine. The instructors in his culinary programs are probably not terribly surprised to note that People Magazine also named him its “Sexiest Chef Alive.”

Bobby Flay: With numerous cookbooks and several television shows under his belt, Bobby Flay is one of the most famous celebrity chefs in the United States. His culinary education at French Culinary Institute where he received the first “Outstanding Graduate Award” years later prepared him to create the Southwestern cuisine for which he has become so well known.

Tyler Florence

Tyler Florence: With television credits that range from broadcast TV to cable specials, Tyler Florence is a true celebrity chef. His education at the College of Culinary Arts at the Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina prepared him not just to cook, but also to write numerous cookbooks.

While not all celebrity chefs have attended cooking school or baking school, some of the most famous and popular ones credit their culinary education for their success. For those who want to follow in their footsteps, looking into culinary programs can be the best place to start.