Portland Culinary School at Western Culinary Institute - Le Cordon Bleu Program
Become a Professional Chef in Portland, OR!
With it's climate being ideal for growing roses, it's no surprise that Portland, OR is sometimes referred to as "The City of Roses." Located in the heart of Portland, Western Culinary Institute's Le Cordon Bleu programs offers an unparalleled level of culinary education to prospective culinary students.
Attending culinary arts school is a great step forward in your career, and you've probably got some questions. Is there scholarship money available? How long will it take? Where do I start? Let us help you fill in the blanks to any questions you might have.
If you are interested in attending cooking school at Western Culinary Institute, we recommend you look at the information below and see if this school is the right fit. If it is, click on the "Request Free School Info" button, fill out the short questionnaire and a representative from the school will contact you to answer any additional questions about the school, costs, financial aid and how to apply.
Western Culinary Institute
600 SW 10th Avenue
Suite 400
Portland, OR 97205
About Western Culinary Institute
Founded in 1983 by Horst Mager and Donald Waldbauer, Western Culinary Institute (WCI) was originally named the Horst Mager Culinary Institute. Dedicated to providing quality, hands-on education to its students, Western Culinary Institute adopted its current name in 1986. Ten years later, in 1996, Western Culinary Institute joined the Career Education Corporation, a network of schools known for their high standards and track record of career services. Partnering with the renowned Le Cordon Blue program in 1999, WCI is a nationally recognized culinary institution.
As with all Le Cordon Bleu affiliated schools, this college offers a comprehensive culinary education that fuses classical French techniques with intensive culinary theory and a modern flair.
Through its association with Le Cordon Bleu, the school offers its graduates access to the famed Le Cordon Bleu Diplôme certification. This internationally-recognized award gives graduates a great competitive edge when it comes to finding employment and advancing their careers.
Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts - Associate of Occupational Studies
At Western Culinary Institute, you will be taught the Le Cordon Bleu method of cooking which begins with classic cooking techniques and the qualitative aspects of food preparation. Providing you with the skills needed in order to complete a required externship where you will be working in real life conditions, and pursue employment in the culinary arts, the culinary component of the degree include nutrition, product quality, the history of culinary arts, classic cooking methods, and hospitality supervision. In addition, students will learn about topics such as management, leadership, corporate operations, public speaking, and cost-control methods.
Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie & Baking - Associate of Occupational Studies or Diploma
Available as a 36-week Diploma curriculum or as an in-depth 60 week Associate of Occupational Studies Degree program, the Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie & Baking course of study focuses on hands-on training in baking and pastry arts. While the AOS program features expanded class and kitchen work, both programs focus on the theoretical knowledge that is the basis for baking and pastry skills. In addition to learning how to decorate cakes, students will also learn how to create show pieces and displays, and learn alongside industry professionals. Upon graduation, students will be prepared to seek employment in a variety of culinary institutions, including catering companies, bakeries, hotels, restaurants, and catering companies.
Faculty
Faculty members are chosen for their familiarity with the Le Cordon Bleu techniques and values. They teach through a combination of culinary theory and practical, hands-on applications. Together, the instructors at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts offer years of combined experience. They are all professionals in the field, coming from restaurants, hotels, and bakeries of all shapes and sizes to bring their first-hand knowledge to students.
Facilities
Located at 600 SW 10th Avenue, Suite 400, Western Culinary Institute is home to the student-run Cafe Bleu restaurant. In addition, the campus boasts a library/resource center (complete with over 2 dozen computer stations), multiple classrooms, and modern cooking/baking labs furnished with industry-standard culinary equipment.
Accreditation
Western Culinary Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology.
Financial Aid
Western Culinary Institute has their own Financial Aid staff ready to assist you through the entire application process. They have helped numerous students like yourself interested in obtaining financial aid to attend their programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify, and interested students should fill out a FAFSA form to determine eligibility.
Going to School in Portland, OR
Incorporated in 1851, Portland is a city located near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. It's warm summers and rainy but temperate winters make it an ideal location for growing roses, and for more than a century Portland has been known as "The City of Roses".
With 28 breweries inside the city, Portland is well-known for its microbrewery beer. In fact, Portland is often said to be the home of the microbrew revolution in the United States.
In addition to good drink, Portland was also deemed by the Food Network as a "Delicious Destination of the Year: A rising city with a fast-growing food scene" for 2007.
While there's no shortage of good food and drink, there's also an abundance of greenspace inside the city. Forest Park is among the largest wilderness parks within city limits in the United States, covering over 5,000 acres. Another noteworthy park is Mt. Tabor Park, which was built on an extinct volcano, and is known for its scenic views and historic reservoirs.
The Trailblazers (NBA) call Portland home, and running is a major sport in the metropolitan area, which hosts the Portland Marathon and much of the Hood to Coast Relay (the world's largest such event). The proximity of Mount Hood also make skiing and snowboarding are also highly popular.
With a wide-array of activities for every taste, Portland is a great place to live, work and go to school!
More Information
If you are interested in any of these programs and would like to find out more, please request information from Western Culinary Institute's Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School - Portland, OR.
Find a Culinary or Hotel Management College in Another Location



