Tag Archive for 'getting into culinary school'

The Difference Between Baking School and Pastry School

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on April 13, 2010
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Difference Between Pastry and Baking SchoolMost of the time, “baking school” is an umbrella term used to describe everything related to the act of baking, including both baking and the pastry arts. After all, pastry and baking are really two sides of the same coin; each one includes a set of skills that leads to the creation of fabulous pies, cakes, and breads most often associated with the dessert course.

Although most schools offer baking and pastry arts as a combined course or diploma program, they are actually two different concepts. Both are required to become a truly accomplished pastry chef, but it is possible to focus on just one as a specialization.

Baking includes the real “meat” of the baking and pastry arts. It involves the creation of:

  • Breads
  • Doughs
  • Cookies
  • Scones
  • Pies
  • Tarts
  • Rolls

Pastry is really just the fancy stuff. It requires the hand of an artist and quite a bit of delicacy. It is the chocolate embellishments on top of the cake, the sugar-sprinkled flowers, and often times the delicate puff of a successful meringue.

When you’re looking for a baking and pastry school, make sure the courses contain exactly what it is you’re after. A straight baking course will probably skip over the small intricacies that make desserts fun and light. A straight pastry course might not teach all the skills you need to successfully integrate ingredients for mass production in an industrial kitchen. If you’re looking for just one or the other, that’s great, and you might be able to save quite a lot of time and money by only focusing on one aspect.

However, if you want a comprehensive culinary education that may lead to a restaurant job or the ability to open a bakery of your own, make sure both baking and pastry get a front seat role. Both sets of skills can go a long way in making your culinary career a success.

Male and Female Ratios in Culinary School

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on November 19, 2009
in Culinary Schools
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Male to Female Ratio Culinary SchoolUntil very recently, the proportion of men to women in culinary schools (and in the restaurant industry as a whole) has been very uneven. Just twenty-five years ago, the percentage of women attending culinary school hovered somewhere below 10 percent. Fifteen years ago, that number jumped to around 35 percent. Today, women and men attend culinary school in almost equal proportions.

Of course, these numbers aren’t static across the board. When you look at the more prestigious schools (like the Culinary Institute of America), male students still outrank female ones 7 to 3. These numbers are a little more evenly distributed than they have been in the past, but female students can certainly feel outnumbered.

Interestingly enough, women always have outranked men when it comes to baking school. In fact, even the CIA sees a disproportionate number of female baking and pastry arts students; in 2003, women accounted for almost 80 percent of the students.

So, what do all of these numbers mean? The answer can be found by looking directly at the restaurant industry.

Although women and men are now attending culinary school in equal proportions, the number of male culinary professionals continues to be higher. Everyone from the celebrity chefs on Food Network and the winners on Top Chef to the Executive Chefs and restaurant owners currently in operation fall into the male majority. That’s because it’s going to take a few years before the cooking school numbers are reflected in the workforce. Women are just now starting to graduate and move beyond entry-level jobs to start finding their niches in the culinary industry.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman considering culinary school; these days, the options are fairly gender-neutral. Women may have a few more hurdles to face in proving their physical stamina in the kitchen, but they should have no problems when it comes to the school admissions process. Culinary schools know that they have decades of inequality to make up for, so more women are finding easy entry than ever before.

Benefits of Private Culinary Schools

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on August 17, 2009
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Private Culinary School EducationChoosing which culinary arts program to attend is one of the most important decisions you will make as you pursue a culinary career – and it’s not an easy decision to make. Considerations like the location of the culinary school, the cost, the length of the program, and the school’s reputation all weigh heavily in the decision-making process. However, one of the most often overlooked aspects of getting a culinary education is choosing a private versus a public culinary school.

The majority of culinary schools are private. Culinary programs from the Institute of Culinary Education, Le Cordon Bleu, and other specialized schools are considered part of a private education. That’s because they are run on a for-profit basis by a company whose business it is to make good chefs. Public culinary programs are those offered through community colleges and public universities. While they tend to be more affordable than some of the more prestigious private options, there are several reasons why a private culinary school might be a better choice for you.

  • Private culinary schools are specialized. These programs are almost always about cooking or baking, and nothing but cooking or baking. In most cases, students aren’t expected to take general education requirements that may or may not relate to the culinary field.
  • Private culinary schools are prestigious. While this isn’t always true, the most famous culinary schools are part of private programs. This is usually due to the fact that the school is able to specialize its curriculum and really concentrate on just food. Because they may have higher tuition costs, private cooking schools also tend to have more up-to-date equipment and more famous and celebrated faculty members.
  • Private culinary schools offer variability. If you’re looking at a public culinary education, you typically have to make do with what is offered at the school (usually general baking, cooking, or hospitality management). When you look to private schools, you can consider more options, including types of techniques learned, international travel opportunities, and even the ingredients you will focus on.

Of course, not every private culinary school is created equally. You will need to consider all your options and all your requirements before settling on the right one, and you should always make sure the school carries the right accreditations and certifications to operate as an institution of higher learning.

How to Tell if Your Culinary School is Good

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on June 20, 2009
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Note: Students should determine if their culinary school is a good one before they attend. One of the biggest errors prospective cooking school students make is not taking the time to investigate if all aspects of the culinary program are right for them.

Culinary SchoolGetting a quality culinary education is the first big step in landing the career of your dreams – and a big part of that quality education is going to a quality school. The good news is, students can now get a good education virtually anywhere in the United States. However, as with most types of schools, your education is only as good as what you put in it.

In order to get the most out of your culinary college or program, give your school the following quiz (or, if you’re considering prospective culinary programs, ask current students and graduates):

  • Are your instructors willing and able to answer your questions?
  • Do you feel like you learn something new every day?
  • Can you see the path of your own improvement?
  • Is your culinary program progressive (that is, does it get increasingly more difficult with each new quarter or semester)?
  • Are you learning on the same types of equipment you’ll use in the real working world?
  • Do most of the students who begin the culinary program see it all the way through?
  • Are your instructors and fellow students enthusiastic about your culinary job outlook?
  • Most days, are you excited about the things you’re learning and the people you’re meeting?

As far as quizzes go, scoring this one is pretty easy – “yes” answers are good, and “no” answers might indicate that your cooking school isn’t quite right for you.

That brings us to an important point in any good culinary education: the best indicator that your culinary program is going to work for you is you feeling enthusiastic about it. If you’re excited, it will show in your food and in the way you approach your future. While technical training skills and a big culinary school name go a long way, you are the biggest asset you have.

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Competition for Culinary Schools

Published
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on May 11, 2009
in Culinary Schools
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Culinary School CompetitionFor 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.