Culinary school can be an expensive proposition. So, before you sign on for a full degree program, make sure that the school you are considering caters to your career goals and aspirations.
For instance, some schools include classes on food cultures and foreign languages – subjects that can be useful to restaurant owners who seek to reach an international clientele.
Basics
If you’re serious about a career in food, culinary school can be a valuable learning experience. But if you’re considering throwing down tens of thousands of dollars for an education, it helps to know what to expect before you sign up.
A good culinary school will offer a variety of classes, including basic cooking skills, the history of various techniques and styles of cuisines, and the chemistry and science behind ingredients. It’ll also offer business and management practice to students interested in running their own restaurant someday. Look for a culinary school that has a student restaurant or dining room open to the public.
Safety
A cook’s work can take them into a kitchen that is filled with hot water, boiling pans and sharp knives. Culinary schools in Dallas Fort Worth make sure students understand how to use these tools safely.
In addition, culinary school teaches students about restaurant etiquette and culture. This can be helpful if they decide to work in professional kitchens, as these settings have strict hierarchies and workplace cultures that may be foreign to new cooks.
As with any educational experience, prospective students should consider the cost of culinary school as well as their own goals and interests when deciding to enroll. It’s important that they find the right fit.
Equipment
Just like when you were a kid and gathered up school supplies, culinary students need certain gear. In addition to a chef uniform, knives and cook books, they also need the right kitchen equipment.
Keeping a clean workspace is stressed in both the classroom and the professional kitchen, so having the right tools for cleaning as you go will help you stay organized and on task. It’s a skill that will serve you well on your journey to becoming a chef.
Depending on your program, you will have a set of cooking tools specific to that program and a standard toolkit to get you started.
Techniques
With cooking shows and reality competitions generating so much interest in culinary skills, it’s no wonder that people interested in becoming chefs are thinking about culinary school.
Culinary school students will learn more than just how to cook. They will also be taught about the science behind food and how to pair flavors that complement each other.
Many culinary programs include a hands-on industry internship before graduation. These externships can be a launching point for a post-graduation job or a way to meet other chefs and potential mentors. Culinary students will also learn organizational skills that are useful in a professional kitchen, such as keeping a clean station and using the metric system.
Nutrition
With a rise in interest in the culinary arts, it’s no surprise that culinary schools are seeing more and more applicants. Many people are captivated by the idea of wearing a white chef’s toque or running their own restaurant.
But some chefs are urging people to reconsider. “It’s irresponsible for schools to take people with no professional kitchen experience,” argues David Chang. He compares it to a medical school accepting students with no prior health care experience. He would like to see schools institute apprenticeships, a concept he has long championed. But that’s a difficult and expensive prospect. For now, culinary schools are offering externships in some of the world’s most well-known restaurants.
Dishes
Culinary school is more than just lectures and food prep. You’ll also take classes on topics such as food safety, nutrition and menu planning.
While a culinary education is a valuable investment, it’s not for everyone. For example, chefs who already have solid kitchen skills may find culinary school unnecessary.
But even a line cook may be better off attending a culinary school than spending years working in a restaurant. According to Brad Spence of Philadelphia’s Amis, it’s “irresponsible” for some culinary schools to admit students who have never worked in a restaurant. That’s because the kitchen experience provides valuable hands-on training. The lessons learned will pay off in the long run.
