Finding the best culinary schools in America is a challenge for those who want to become top rated chefs. As the culinary schools chosen will have a profound impact your future career as a chef, making the right choice for you is vital.A common misconception is that education is not required to become a chef. While a small number of people can work their way up through the kitchen, most of the top chefs have some form of formal education. Just like other professionals, such as doctors and lawyers, the culinary schools a chef attends has a great impact on their future. Listed below are the top culinary schools in America.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) - This culinary school only includes the basics of cooking in their curriculum, they also include management theories and interpersonal skills as well. Their programs include much hands on experience with students spending at least 1,300 hours in the kitchen. There is also an 18 week internship at one of 1,600 top restaurants around the world. Associate degrees are typically 21 months, and bachelor degrees are 38 months.
Texas Culinary Academy - This culinary school offers a culinary arts program as well as a patisserie and baking program.They have a number of degree and certificate programs. Students will learn basic cooking skills along with other skills they will need in the field, such as butchering, purchasing, and cost control.
Johnson & Wales University -This culinary school prides itself on being more than just a culinary school. They offer an intense hands-on approach in their real-life kitchens. They offer associate degrees in baking & pastry arts and culinary arts. They also offer bachelor degrees in baking & pastry arts and culinary arts. However, they also have programs in culinary nutrition, food marketing, food service entrepreneurship and food service management.
Sullivan University - This culinary school offers a total of seven different programs.These range from a nine month professional baker diploma to a 36 month bachelor degree in hospitality management, and everything in between. They have state of the art facilities including five bake shops, a gourmet dining room, a demonstration lab, and a catering service.
Liaison College - Liaison College offers diploma programs in basic cook,advanced cook, personal chef, and hospitality administration. The basic cook program lasts for 15 weeks and incorporates classroom work with hands on experience. All of the instructors are master chefs giving students the best training in classic culinary techniques.
The culinary schools started as a vocational school with the most skeletal faculty. However, from there, it transformed into the country's culinary arts cornerstone. Besides a BPS (Bachelor of Professional Studies) and AOS (Associate of Occupational Studies) offerings on Baking and Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts, the Culinary Institute of America also offers continuing education courses. These continuing education courses focus both on practical culinary practices and restaurant management courses. Easily, the CIA is one of the most extensive culinary schools in New York, offering education for every kind of student.
Many culinary institutes are located in either New England or California. While there are many spread across the USA, these areas are renown for having the highest number of culinary schools. If you are willing to travel, you will have access to many more schools than if you are staying locally. If you happen to live in California or New England, you will not have to travel far to find a good culinary school.
Like all culinary schools, there are some culinary centers that surpass the competition. Some of the best culinary schools include the California Culinary Academy, the California School of Culinary Arts, the Connecticut Culinary Institute, the Culinary Academy of Long Island, The Kitchen Academy of California and Le Cordon Bleu culinary school.