Do you find yourself glued to the tube every Wednesday night to catch the latest episode of Top Chef? While it's entertaining to watch talented cooks at work, what could be more fun than getting in on the action yourself? Instead of staging your own Quickfire Challenge or preparing Tre's signature bacon-wrapped shrimp for your dinner guests, give your cooking skills a boost with culinary arts courses.
When you read the bios of this season's "Cheftestants," you'll find that many of them have at least an associate's degree in culinary arts. Why not follow their lead? If you have a passion for cooking, combine it with the right training to help you launch a career in the food industry. With the wide variety of culinary arts programs available, there's never been a better time to earn a culinary degree.
A Cornucopia of Degrees
Maybe you already make a delectable marinara sauce or a risotto to rave about. But do you know the public health regulations that govern commercial kitchens or the industry standards on portion control? Culinary arts courses can teach you these technicalities as well as how to handle knives like a pro, store food in a safe and hygienic way, and plan a balanced menu. If you think your sauces pack a punch now, imagine how great they could be after you take a course on spices and seasonings!
Whether you're interested in taking just a couple of culinary courses or would like to earn an associate's or bachelor's degree in culinary arts, you should have no trouble finding a culinary school close to your home that can meet your needs. If you hope to work as an executive chef or head cook someday, you'll benefit from getting as much training as possible. Getting a job as a chef in the most exclusive restaurants is almost as competitive as the elimination round on your favorite show, and the skills you could learn from culinary school can help you avoid the chopping block as you search for work.
Educational Opportunities
A number of top culinary schools with campuses nationwide provide programs in almost every aspect of the culinary arts from cooking and baking to food and beverage management to catering to restaurant ownership. In addition to food preparation, many schools also offer courses in nutrition, marketing, entrepreneurship, and cost analysis as well as adjunct classes in math, computers, and communication.
Culinary schools use a mix of hands-on practical classes and demonstration classes, which often showcase famous guest chefs. Many schools offer classes in the preparation of different styles of cuisine as well as table service training and wine service. They seek to fuse the art of cooking with critical business management knowledge. A number of schools place their students in internships with top restaurants and resort casinos and others hold culinary competitions, which provide their students with opportunities to be mentored by top name chefs. Whatever your learning style or passion, you can find a culinary arts program that provides the education you need to succeed.
Work Your Way to the Top
When you graduate from culinary arts school, you'll probably have to put in your time as a sous chef or food preparation worker before you can expect to be the big boss in the kitchen. If you are knowledgeable and have a natural talent and interest in the field, however, advancement possibilities should present themselves. While you might not be sitting at the Judges' Table with Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio right away, if you set your mind to it you could be slicing and dicing with the other Top Chefs by Season 7.
Even if stardom isn't in your future, as a graduate of a culinary arts program you could look forward to other benefits. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that overall employment for chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers is expected to grow between 9 and 17% through 2014. Once hired, the size of your paycheck can vary depending on your position and where you're employed. Median hourly earnings of chefs and head cooks in 2004 were $14.75, but chefs at the most exclusive restaurants can make over $26.75 an hour, according to BLS. All the more reason to get some training!
Turn Up the Heat on Your Career
Next time you're searching for recipes from last week's episode, take a few minutes to look at culinary schools. You may be surprised by the flexibility and ease with which you can earn your degree--and by the opportunities that a professional credential in culinary arts could create for you. While you may decide not to audition for Top Chef, a culinary degree could provide you with the skills and confidence you need to bring your career in the food industry to a boil.