Can You Take the Heat of the Kitchen
The inner chef is brought out in everyone when we hear the steak sizzle or smell the freshly baked bread or fresh cut vegetables. There are those who become students at culinary colleges, undertaking a journey of culinary brilliance, taking the heat in the kitchen, so to speak, and making it their life’s work. For many people, cooking is simply a hobby, yet they sometimes wonder whether it is possible for them to have a professional chef career. The recent influx of food colleges may have something to do with the growing interest of these two different types of people, the gourmet hobbyist and the aspiring executive chef.
If cooking is your passion and you are thinking of enrolling in a culinary college, you should consider a few things before making a decision. Be prepared for the aching feet, bruises, cuts, long hours of study, and constant ego deflation that are all part of the physical, intellectual, and emotional demands of all of the best culinary colleges. Second, you may find it practically impossible to get into the best culinary arts colleges as they have long waiting periods because of high demand and rigorous admission procedures. A prospective culinary arts student must, in addition to having a background in the cooking community, compile an exemplary resume that includes a high school diploma, school records showing a high GPA, and an ACT test score.
The following is a review of what you will learn in one of the United States’ premier cooking schools. Le Cordon Bleu, School of Culinary Arts is, in all likelihood, the most famous culinary school because of the effort they put into advertising and television commercials.
The school has many skill sets that students will learn in their cooking classes to help in their preparation for the food service industry ranging from knife skills and food sanitation, to hospitality and restaurant management. The potential chef should learn enough through both culinary education and practice that they are capable of working through any number of situations, as this is what the instructor strives to teach.
While the Food Network’s Rachel Ray never went to any of the many culinary colleges before becoming a star, don’t expect that you will be anywhere near as lucky. Gordon Ramsey and Todd English have acquired years of formal chefs education in culinary colleges but some of what is required to reach their status is just plain luck. In the highly competitive cooking industry, to succeed you must first realistically evaluate your own skill level, research and select the best food university for you, and then study for all you’re worth. With a lot of hard work and discipline you may be TV’s next culinary star, but even if you don’t make it to celebrity status, a chef career in the food service industry can still be exciting and highly rewarding.
Current Culinary College News
- Celebrating Culinary Arts In North Texas
Michele Brown, professor of culinary arts at Collin College, was named the 2010 Pastry Chef of the Year by the Texas Chefs Association. Brown has been a fulltime professor at Collin College since January 2008.
- Meet Culinary Specialist Guy Klinzing
Meet Taste of Home culinary specialist Guy Klinzing. Guy conducts Cooking School shows across the country. His love of traveling to experience the flavors of different cities combined with his enthusiasm for cooking allows him to share his culinary passion with people just like you!
- Nelson Colne College Catering And Hospitality Students Honoured
Nelson and Colne College is celebrating the success of its professional cookery and hospitality students this year. 03/09/2010 10:09:02
- Nanticoke Asked To Back Bridge Loan For Culinary Institute
NANTICOKE A regional construction company has requested two city entities apply for a 500,000 bridge loan because a state grant awarded to Luzerne County Community Colleges culinary institute is tied up in Harrisburg.
- Former OCC Student Wins Food Network Challenge
A graduate of Orange Coast Colleges culinary arts program won first place this week in a contest in which four top chefs went up against one another to see who could create a chocolate vehicle that actually moved.
