| Culinary cooking schools are a wonderful career option | | | | If you want to be sure you are getting the broadest |
| if you've always loved good food and are interested in | | | | range of training, take a look at the courses you will be |
| cooking or running a restaurant. Today's culinary | | | | taking. There should be some focus on the core |
| schools not only teach you how to prepare complex | | | | culinary arts as well as separate units on the |
| dishes, but how to choose the proper ingredients with | | | | confectionary, baking and pastry arts. Many of the |
| an eye for quality products and properly managing a | | | | best culinary cooking schools will offer you a choice of |
| professional kitchen. But with culinary cooking schools | | | | a degree in culinary arts, management or a one that |
| springing up across the country, you will need to find | | | | focuses specifically on being a pastry chef. There |
| one that will give you the best possible education. | | | | should also be a complete class in any curriculum that |
| There are several things to consider that will ensure | | | | focuses on understanding and appreciating wines and |
| you are getting not only a superior education, but one | | | | liquors, as these are a finishing touch to a truly gourmet |
| that will open doors for you when you enter the | | | | meal and knowing what wines pair well with the foods |
| restaurant and hospitality world as a chef. | | | | you prepare is essential. |
| Accreditation by the American Culinary Federation | | | | Internships or Affiliated Restaurants |
| The American Culinary Federation is an organization of | | | | There is nothing that will prepare you for the real world |
| professional chefs that monitors and reviews | | | | of food preparation in a restaurant atmosphere like |
| restaurants, catering services and culinary cooking | | | | experience. If there is some type of internship program |
| schools and provides a variety of services to its | | | | in place you will have the opportunity to try out your |
| members. Accreditation by this group means the | | | | newly learned skills while pursuing your education. |
| school has met certain strict standards. | | | | Some schools will provide this opportunity by having |
| The Quality of the Kitchens | | | | their own restaurant, run by the staff and students, |
| Whenever possible visit the school you are considering | | | | which is a part of or affiliated with the culinary school. |
| and ask for a tour of the kitchens. There should be at | | | | Job Placement Assistance |
| least two fully equipped professional kitchens so that | | | | The best culinary cooking schools care about their |
| you can learn to cook a variety of ways (cooking | | | | students even after they have completed their |
| over electric heat and gas heat can be quite different). | | | | coursework and prepare to enter the hospitality or |
| Be sure to ask questions about the various types of | | | | restaurant world. Ask about whether the school |
| appliances and features that are available for student | | | | provides assistance with preparing your resume, |
| use. | | | | interviewing techniques and coordinating job interviews |
| Class Size is Crucial | | | | and networking opportunities. |
| Smaller classes at culinary cooking schools mean | | | | If you find schools that meet the six criteria outlined |
| more hands-on training during the early stages of your | | | | above, you can assume that they are exceptional |
| education. With fewer students, the instructors will be | | | | institutions that will prepare you for your future as a |
| able to give you more individualized attention. You will | | | | chef or in food services management. From there, |
| also have more opportunities to try advanced | | | | your final selection should be based on your own gut |
| techniques and get in crucial hours of experience. | | | | feeling. No one except you can say which of these |
| Variety of the Curriculum | | | | culinary cooking schools is best for you. |