If you are attracted to the thought of pursuing a culinary career, you may be interested in attending cooking school. Although it is not strictly necessary, a culinary arts degree is a major asset to those interested in pursuing cooking as a career. The degree will show potential employers that you are serious about your career. Even more importantly, your education will prepare you for the real-world challenges that you will face in a professional kitchen. If your goal is restaurant management or ownership, look for a program that combines classroom instruction in the business aspects of running a restaurant with hands-on experience in the kitchen. If your desired career is within the kitchen, consider a cooking school that offers a shorter program with an intensive focus on the practical skills necessary to become a chef.If you have dreamed of becoming a chef and are finally ready to take the step towards achieving this goal, you probably have thought about culinary schools. How do you know which school is right for you? Do you close your eyes and pick one, hoping your finger contains a touch of luck? Surely there is a better way to choose a culinary school.
Factors to Consider When Selecting a Culinary School
1. Reputation-When selecting a culinary school to attend, the first thing you need to check is its reputation in the culinary world. It need not be the No. 1 cooking school but it should be known for its standing and ability to produce quality cooks and chefs.
2. Awards or Citations-Check if the culinary school has any awards or citations granted by culinary award-giving bodies. This way, you're assured that the school has standards high enough that others in the industry are not only noticing it, but rewarding it.
3. Membership in Culinary Organizations-Check if the culinary school is an active member of any culinary organization. This way, you're assured that the school is on top of whatever is the latest trend on the cooking industry.Although food trends are pretty much like fashion (i.e., there's always something going out of style and something making a comeback), there are still new things that are introduced now and then. An example is the current trend to cook meat using 'water treatments', where the meat is flavored and sealed in a vacuum pack and the whole pack placed in water at a specific temperature. It is trends like these that the culinary schools should be on top of.
4. Curriculum-What type of cook do you wish to be? For instance, do you want to excel in a specific country's cooking that may not necessarily the country where you come from? Do you want to be more of a pastry connoisseur? Whatever you want to 'major' in, ensure that the culinary school has a good curriculum for it.
5. Mode of Teaching-Different people learn in different ways. Further, depending on where you are in your life right now, time or schedule of classes may be an issue with you. As such, check the mode of teaching applied by the school and schedules of classes.
6. Proximity-A school may have a good rep but is it really a viable option for you? If distance is an issue, then you may have to rule out culinary schools out of your city OR you can ask if there are local accredited schools.
7. Check out reviews-Nowadays, there are some sites that offer a sort of grading or review system for schools. See, if the culinary school you want to attend is listed on the site and see what others have to say. Don't depend solely on the reviews of other people, but it can be a great starting point in your search for your culinary school.
By taking this approach, you'll soon find the school that matches your ambitions.Why top cookery schools really can give you an edge? Top schools give you an edge through a combination of great facilities, excellent teaching and a commitment to support their students into new careers. Look for the following:
- Clean, modern, professional kitchens
- Basic-to-advanced in a few weeks (look for two practical sessions each day)
- Experienced trainers who understand training and the catering business
- More than just kitchen skills - a good school of cooking builds life skills too
- Lots of satisfied students and great reviews
- Solid industry contacts (caterering and specialist recruiters)
- Courses slanted towards your career plans
Always look beyond (vital) culinary skills. The best schools offer a tailored approach to training, take a genuine interest in your ambitions and offer many career-boosting extras as standard!
What sort of skills can you expect to cover at cooking school?
A truly great cookery school will progress you from basic level to restaurant professional in a few weeks - and they'll demonstrate having done this for former students.Look for training on many different culinary styles, and developing the depth and breadth of skill that creates a rounded, capable chef and underpins a successful career. A good cook school gives you this foundation, builds your confidence, gives you practical business expertise and develops the people skills that distinguish great chefs from good ones.
Are there any intensive cooking schools where you could get a confident grasp of cooking in a short time? Do they offer accommodation?
When you're changing career, you need to quickly get the skills you need. A shorter, intensive course (say four-weeks, with two practical cooking sessions each day) will give you a solid foundation on which to launch your new career and start earning.
Courses such as the one run by The Gables Cookery School in the UK offer this intensive training. To get the most out of your course, always look for a school that offers total immersion in the culinary world during your training - complete with on-site accommodation. It really is the only way to train if you're taking your career change seriously.
Are the lecturers qualified in teaching as well as cookery?
One of the marks of a great cookery school is that the training team is made up of trained trainers who are also professionally qualified cooks. This is essential, so make sure you ask about the training qualifications at your shortlisted schools. There are lots of good chefs out there - but relatively few with specialist training qualifications too!
How will a school of cooking help me when I've finished training? What post-course support and advice should I expect?
The best culinary school will support you after your course. They'll have excellent industry links, strong relationships with catering recruitment consultants and lots of connections with people and organisations that can help you in your career. Above all, they won't forget you after you graduate; instead, you can expect your newly-forged relationship to continue and develop throughout your new career.
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