Culinary Arts Education
What are the culinary arts?From seven star hotels to top of the line restaurants to our homes – culinary arts play a crucial part in our lives. Culinary chefs are not only charged with preparing and presenting a wide range of food, they also create dishes, plan menus and are responsible for creating a comfortable eating environment. A culinary arts education enables students to gain the knowledge and skills required to work in the demanding kitchen environment. A culinary arts education helps students develop sensational dishes that tantalize a person’s taste buds and give them an experience they will never forget.
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What sort of education and training can I obtain?
A number of diplomas, short courses and degree programs are available for students interested in a culinary arts education. Culinary classes are mostly offered by colleges specializing in tourism and hospitality management; however some institutes dedicated to culinary arts education have also opened up. These include world renowned Le Cordon Bleu and the Culinary Institute of America, which offer hundreds of courses and degree programs. Students can obtain an associates or bachelors degree in the culinary arts. A new program that has been recently introduced is the Bachelor of Arts in hospitality management & culinary arts, which combines the two fields. A culinary arts degree can take anywhere from three to four years to earn, and involves extensive instruction that enables students to not only create exquisite dishes, but also to develop a deep understanding of diet and nutrition. A culinary arts education also includes instruction on sanitation and public health, baking skills and food presentation techniques. Beyond these technical skills, students learn how to create a captivating eating environment and also learn various management principles, resource management, occupational safety and inventorying skills.
What are the career prospects?
A culinary arts education opens up endless career options from multi-million dollar hotels and restaurants to cruise ships to self owned bakeries and cafes. Students can specialize in a particular type of food preparation, such as baking, or specialize in preparing foods from a certain region. Culinary arts graduates can also make careers as purchasers and food & beverage managers in major hotels and restaurants. Still others may take additional courses in health & safety and find jobs as food inspectors and quality assurance officers. From restaurants and catering companies to hospitals and airlines, chefs complete a wide number of tasks. In addition to food preparation, their work may involve developing menus, purchasing fresh ingredients and assuring the highest level of customer satisfaction. Culinary arts graduates with a flair for writing may take journalism classes or photography courses and become food writers and critics. A culinary arts education also goes a long way for people who wish to set up their own businesses.