February 22, 2012

Guide to Culinary Arts

Culinary Programs of Chef Schools in New York
Anyone who is enthusiastic about restaurant and hospitality as well as culinary endeavors should consider traveling to New York as there are numerous of quality and exceptional chef schools in New York City. New York is home to famous executive chefs who are internationally known and where the food export industry is unstoppable. Students can enroll at any outstanding schools and even have the opportunity to have internships in the best kitchens to gain experience as to how the culinary world of New York functions. Passion and creativity is what all these schools look for in their students because when it comes to food, passion and creativity are the two essential elements that can make an unforgettable and exceptional culinary experience.

The chef schools in New York offer certificates, diplomas and degrees in the culinary arts field. Regardless if you specialize in baking and pastry, culinary arts or hospitality management, their chef programs guarantee to provide you with the foundation you need to begin your career, and the rest is up to you. The culinary certificate or diploma programs, depending on the coursework, can be completed within 9 months, while the associate degree can be completed in 2 years focusing on menu development, cost control, purchasing, kitchen management skills, nutrition and recipe writing. The bachelor 4 years degree offers in depth learning pushing your skills further and sharpening your skills for management opportunities. And the master’s degree in food studies, business or food related concentration will prepare you for a role as an executive chef.

Considering the great number of chef schools in New York, choosing one will be a challenge. However, most of the time, it is the school that chooses you. Passion and creativity, combined with sheer confidence and the ambition to succeed in the food industry get you into any school. As such, if you have a flair in cooking in any cuisine, you may want to consider training to become a chef.

What to Know About Chef Schools
When you are looking for chef schools, you should consider several factors beginning with your goals and aspirations. You must know what type of education you want and search for the school that offers that degree program where your desired field of culinary arts or specialization is focused on. The quality of the school also is an important factor and so are their geographical locations. And most importantly, as students you will need to consider the average cost of education and training in chef schools.

Always consider chef schools that are accredited by the ACFFAC or American Culinary Federation Foundation Accrediting Commission. Only accredited schools have quality programs and reputation, as they have managed to pass the minimum standards required for course content, facilities and instruction. Most importantly, choosing to study in an unaccredited school can lead you to possible graduate school application and employer rejections. If you also find yourself worrying about the distance of the school that you can afford, opt for online schools as there are also plenty that are accredited, and you will be saving up on travel costs.

Certificate and diploma programs which are common, are completed in 8 to 10 weeks and offered in vocational schools, community colleges and many universities, while the Associate’ degree programs can be completed within 2 years. The bachelor’s degree programs can be completed in 4 years while focusing on managerial positions and the Master’s degree programs can be completed in 2 years but are quite rare and only a few chef schools offer this degree. As the food industry continues to boom, numerous chef schools in different sizes, locations and programs continue to educate and train food enthusiasts with a passion for cooking and baking. Chefs are not only successful due to passion, creativity and confidence. They are also successful through the help of the school that had given them the foundation of their knowledge and skill.

Considering the great number of chef schools in New York, choosing one will be a challenge. However, most of the time, it is the school that chooses you. Passion and creativity, combined with sheer confidence and the ambition to succeed in the food industry get you into any school. As such, if you have a flair in cooking in any cuisine, you may want to consider training to become a chef.

The Best Among the Many Pastry Chef Schools in Chicago
There are plenty of pastry chef schools in Chicago, but there is only one pastry school that will continue to rise against the best among them all. Offering world class pastry instruction, The French Pastry School has been known to provide students with the utmost attention towards the development of their career that begins the moment they begin to the time they leave the school. Every program has been carefully designed to secure the future careers to every student. The French Pastry School is only one out of the many pastry chef schools in Chicago that offer full time, and hands on certificate programs which are popular.

Programs offered at The French Pastry School are approved by the Illinois Community College Board, through the Kennedy-King College at City Colleges of Chicago. The French Pastry School boasts of a faculty team that no other pastry chef schools in Chicago may have:
o 2011 National Pastry Champions – Della Gossett, Joshua Johnson and Scott Green
o Kristen Ryan
o Master Cake Artists – Mark Seaman and Nicholas Lodge
o World Pastry Champions – Dimitri Favard and En- Ming Hsu
o World Baking Champion – Pierre Zimmermann
This team of well respected chefs train students enrolled in the popular “L’Art de la Patisserie” which is a 24 week certificate professional pastry and baking program. This program offers a through education in pastry and baking as well as confectionery with excellent instruction, top quality ingredients and state of the art equipment.

If you are looking for a career change and where to enroll from all the pastry chef schools in Chicago, consider The French Pastry School. Within 24 weeks, you will be ready to step out confidently into the pastry industry through “L’Art de la Patisserie”. There may be plenty of pastry schools, but choosing an accredited and excellent school counts into making you into a successful chef. Opt to learn only from the best so you in turn can become one of the best.

The Best Chef Schools in the U.S.
Have you been looking for the best chef schools in the country? If you have been doing your research online, you must have already discovered that there are a multitude of best chef schools to choose from. But how do you distinguish if a school is indeed a quality school for you to consider applying to mold you into one of the best chefs in the country. There are a few highly recommended schools for the year 2011 that boasts an array of superb course programs, faculty members, successful students to have made it big in the food industry and numerous of outstanding awards.

The best chef schools in the country for 2011:
o Institute of Culinary Education in New York where its students and alumni are constantly nominated or win top industry awards.
o The Texas Culinary Academy which is the only Cordon Bleu affiliated cooking school in Texas.
o Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park NY is the oldest culinary school in the country boasting a high profile alumni.
o Kendall College School of Culinary Arts in Chicago has a partnership with Les Roches International School of Hotel Management offering joint degree programs and international internships.
o Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Boston featuring a recently opened and well reviewed restaurant called Technique at Le Cordon Bleu.
o French Culinary Institute NYC features reputable and distinguished faculty such as Jacques Torres and more.
o Sullivan University at the National Center for Hospitality Studies featuring a 3 ½ star restaurant named Winston’s and is rated by Emeril Lagasse to be one of the best chef schools in America.

These are just a few of the many best chef schools in the country that have numerous students, superb facilities and instruction. If you want to be a professional in the food industry these are the schools you should consider. However, if distance would be a problem, you can opt to study through reputable online schools. You can also inquire if these schools also offer online programs.

Top Chef Schools You Can Consider Enrolling In
When you are looking for a school to enroll in to help sharpen your skills as a cooking enthusiast and to mold you into a successful chef, you will need to consider a few top chef schools that have received plenty of positive reviews. Although there are numerous of accredited quality schools, these schools can be considered the most reviewed for the year 2010 and 2011. Researching about the schools you feel is suited for you is essential because you will need to consider certain factors such as the cost of tuition, location, programs offered and internship. You should also be aware that studying in an accredited school gives you leverage for your career.

List of the top chef schools that have been mostly viewed and well rated for the years 2010 and 2011:
o The Institute of Culinary Education in NYC NY
o The French Culinary Institute in NYC NY
o Texas Culinary Academy in Austin TX
o California Culinary Academy in San Francisco CA
o The Kendall College School of Culinary Arts in Chicago IL
o The Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts
o The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY
o The International Culinary School at The Art Institute
o Johnson & Wales University in Providence RI, Miami FL, Charlotte NC and Denver CO
o Sullivan University in Louisville KY
o Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Scottsdale AZ
o Stratford University in Fallschurch and Woodbridge VA

Some of these top chef schools can either be attended to at campus locations or online. They all offer a variety of programs that focusing on different aspects of the culinary arts. You will also find several well known chefs teaching in some of these top chef schools which only highlights the excellent instruction being offered. You can visit the websites of these schools and submit a request information form so you can receive the necessary details about their course and programs.

Study Culinary Arts at Canadian Chef Schools

Canada is considered to be an international country where culture, language and food is proudly featured and this is what can be found in all the Canadian chef schools in the country. A variety of cuisines can be found primarily in the major cities of Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Montreal. The most highlighted cuisine in Canada is no other than French cuisine which is common and creatively blended with American cuisine. The schools that offer culinary arts in the country teach young aspiring chefs the secrets of their amazing cuisine that makes food the official language of Canada.

Popular Canadian Chef Schools:

o Algonquin College is one of the popular Canadian chef schools having campuses at Perth, Ottawa and Pembroke and is known for its excellent instructions through exceptional educators and facilities.
o Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute offers the best instruction for French cuisine and pastry training by master chefs in state of the art facilities.
o The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts located in Vancouver BC, offers 2 diploma programs – Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts training students to be experts in their field of study.
o Stratford Chefs School is well known for being the only school in the country that is operated by working restaurant professionals thus offering instruction following the current market trends in the food industry and cuisine innovations.

If you are planning to study in Canadian Chef Schools, you will also have to understand The Red Seal certification program. This certification guarantees that you had been able to receive training and met industry competencies according to defined industry standards. This a necessity for employers as this is what they will look for. In conclusion, if you really want to make the most out of your passion for food and cooking as well as reach your highest potential, study in the best schools and take the Red Seal test.

What to Know When Applying at Pastry Chef Schools in NJ
There are plenty of pastry chef schools in NJ and many of them provide world class education and training for those aspiring to become successful pastry chefs. As a matter of fact you can find schools that offer cost effective but effective programs that cover a large scope of the culinary arts aside from pastry and baking courses. Professional chefs educate students in well equipped facilities having state of the art equipment and as many of these chefs are working professionals, they are able to provide students with the latest trend in the food industry. The internship being offered in most of the pastry chef schools in NJ are affiliated with the best restaurants and hotels or even have their own restaurants where students can practice their skills in a working environment.

Before you apply at any pastry chef schools in NJ, you should consider the location and the environment if the school as well as the facilities being offered. You must also make it a point to verify the total cost of the tuition fees and other expenses associated with the program and compare it with other schools you are still considering. You must know the type of program available and length of time to complete, as well as the size of the class. Verify if the school is accredited to meet the education standard for your choice of program and review the course subjects available.

Applying in pastry chef schools in NJ is different from applying at other schools. Unlike other schools that look at entrance exam scores or SAT results, pastry chef schools in NJ considers the passion and determination students have for the art of pastry and baking. Students who show a potential or the determination to succeed in culinary arts are mostly considered. Moreover, as creativity, confidence and curiosity is needed in the art of cooking, these factors must be present in every applicant.

Why Should I Study at Culinary Chef Schools

The culinary industry has been seen to grow at a rapid rate introducing more and more exquisite cuisines as culinary chef schools welcomes a multitude of aspiring students who are all passionate about cooking. Culinary arts offer a wide selection of job opportunities in restaurants, hotels, schools, resorts, private homes, cruise liners and more. In the field of culinary arts, you hold the decision to where you would want your education and skills to take you. As a matter of fact, there are students who believed that they would become a caterer, to only discover that their passion was to be a food consultant and they had no trouble because culinary arts already covers the knowledge and training required for all these opportunities.

There are job opportunities in the culinary industry that have entry level positions accepting applicants without any formal training, but such schools do not provide enough. However, if you were to receive formal training from culinary chef schools, you can immediately apply for a chef position without having to go through low pay rates and can immediately be considered for future career advancements, which are all to your advantage. For many graduates of culinary chef schools, the average pay rate would range from $8.50 to $15.00 per hour for graduates. However those who are able to work harder and fully apply their expertise, can earn between $36,000 to $63,000 based on their level of education, certification and workplace.

There are a number of successful chefs today who were not able to train in culinary chef schools and they got up the ladder the hard way. Hence, they advice aspiring chefs to take the initiative and study and train in accredited culinary chef schools. This is to help aspiring chefs have the formal training and better career path in little time while learning from the best. Culinary art schools help sharpen the skills and increase the creativity and passion of those wanting to succeed in the food industry.

What You Can Learn From Pastry Chef Schools
You cannot become a successful pastry chef because you will need the formal training and necessary education from pastry chef schools to achieve it. Skills are important and for many the art of creating mouth watering pastries and baked goods comes naturally with plenty of practice to perfect it. Mixing of ingredients and understanding the chemistry between two ingredients requires plenty of focus and comprehension of taste and blends. What you can learn from pastry chef schools:
o Kitchen organization skills
o Ordering supplies
o Management abilities in kitchens
o Baking skills
o Appropriate way to plate and display pastries
o Staff management

Most importantly, when you study and train at pastry chef schools, you will be taught how essential team work is to create innovative and creative goods. You will also be taught quantity control through menu planning, cost control and food buying. Although it may not seem to exist in creating sweet treats, nutrition is also essential for healthier eating which most people now consider to be a part of their diet, so even if you are simply making healthy treats, you must have the skills to balance the flavors and appeal. Keeping an eye out for detail is taught considering the importance of creativity, artistic plating and innovation.

The demand for trained pastry chefs is increasing and many have been earning as much as $60,000 a year. And so if you are looking for a career that allows your passion for food to be translated into artistic creations after being taught in programs offered by pastry chef schools, then this is for you. You will also learn how to make use of local ingredients that are healthy but follows the innovative trend of culinary arts in the food industry. Pastry chefs have been known to work independently but schools teach students how to work together to execute various creative and innovative pastries.

Popular South African Chef Schools You can Attend

South Africa features a variety of multicultural cuisine of different sources and stages that have also been called rainbow cuisine which can be discovered in depth at South African chef schools where professional chef professors educate and train young aspiring chefs how to create masterpieces of culinary art. There are numerous of excellent culinary schools that offer exceptional culinary courses and programs. They also offer internships with partnered restaurants and hotels while others have on site restaurants where their students can practice at a working environment. If you are considering studying at one of their culinary schools, here are is list where should you graduate, you can achieve an internationally recognized City & Guilds accredited qualification.

Popular South African chef schools on South Africa:
o Christina Martin School of Food & Wine highlights the rich heritage of French Cuisine and boasts its international recognition for the One Year Intensive Chef and Patisserie Diploma Courses
o Institute of Culinary Arts offers 9 months, 1 year, 18 months, 2 years and 3 years diplomas
o Capsicum Culinary Studio is the largest private chef school among the South African chef schools that encourages experimentation and creativity in students
o The Fusin Cooking School offers a diploma and advance diploma in Global Cuisine and Culinary Theatre and 3 moth Boutique Hospitality in Global Cuisine and other specialized courses
Other South African Chef Schools:
o Prue Leith Chefs Academy
o The 1000 Hills Chefs School
o Silwood School of Cookery
o The Culinary Academy

South Africans are well known for their habit of eating out. And as this habit increases, the food industry business increase as well. As a result the number of applicants at South African chef schools also offer an array of exceptional South African cuisines. If you want to learn the best of South African cuisine, you may want to look into the programs being offered by these schools.