Get Cooking with a Culinary Education
Employment opportunities in the food service industry continue to grow, particularly for individuals with the appropriate culinary education and training. New restaurants are opening all the time, as Americans look for new ways to spend their leisure dollars and save time by not cooking for themselves.
But, there are other growth areas beyond traditional restaurants. Grocery stores are beginning to stock pre-prepared meals that shoppers can take home. Caterers prepare thousands of meals daily for business meetings, parties, and conventions. And, the growing number of schools, senior living centers, and retirement homes provide a constant demand for food service workers in institutional settings.
Chefs and cooks design meals, and customers enjoy eating their creations. To take advantage of the continuing need for trained chefs and food service workers, consider enrolling on one of these culinary programs.
Culinary Degrees
Today's culinary arts training programs not only teach classroom theory, but they provide a hands-on opportunity to prepare a wide variety of cuisine, from classical European meals to American regional food. Students learn basic kitchen skills, from knife techniques to sanitation and safety procedures. They learn the steps needed to prepare meats, vegetables, soups and sauces.
Many culinary programs, particularly those that offer degrees, also teach business and management skills, which can be useful for supervisory positions, or for those that want to open their own restaurant or catering operation.
Baking and Pastry Arts Degrees
Baking and pastry is a culinary specialty area, involving the preparation of breads, cakes, cookies, and desserts. While most culinary schools provide an introduction to baking and pastry in their regular culinary training, a specialized baking and pastry certificate or degree can provide advanced knowledge and hands-on experience for individuals seeking to work in a hotel, restaurant, or commercial bakery.
Baking and pastry training can also be useful for a mid-career chef or cook who wants to increase his or her knowledge, or who want to move into a management or supervisory role. As a result, many schools offering these programs in the mornings, or on weekends, so they can be taken on a part time basis while the student continues to work their regular job.
