One of the fastest growing fields of interest within the past decade is culinary school and the vast number of career possibilities after graduating from one. In many cases, “foodies” are the individuals who enter the program due to their extreme interest in gastronomy. Being a “foodie” is about enjoying food as a passion and having interest about where it came from and how it was prepared. Foodies don’t simply eat out of necessity or hunger. They adore their relationship with food and often put a lot of effort into finding new ingredients, recipes or creating their own. This special outlook on food consumption frequently leads to obtaining a career within the culinary arts sector.
There are several things to consider when contemplating nutrition-oriented occupation. Food lovers must be prepared for many ups and downs as the industry is highly competitive and challenging.
While in School
Although the culinary school teaches classical cooking techniques and helps in developing a palate of a gourmet cook, the curriculum can be demanding. It requires excessive amounts of patience, strong attention to detail and complete devotion to the studies both theoretical and practical. The ultimate goal is to prepare the potential graduates for professional kitchen where hours are long and the atmosphere is intense.
After Graduation
It should not be expected that immediately upon graduation, one will become a chef. It typically takes several years to move up the culinary ladder of success before reaching the final step. During that time, diligent cooks use their “foodie” passion to polish their skills and further their education about nutrition, diet and meal preparation.
Kitchen Environment
Upon securing a position in a restaurant, many new graduates are eager to show their gastronomic talents and advance their careers as quickly as possible. Due to the nature of the field, freshly hired young cooks typically start from the bottom and work their way to the top. It may mean long hours, working on the weekends, during the holidays and having limited social life. However, true “foodies” welcome the challenge and persistently dedicate their time and energy to achieve their ambitious goal of becoming a well renowned chef. Fast-paced kitchen environments often provide endless opportunities to shine and advance quickly.
The Cost of Education in Culinary Arts
Several financial programs are available to advance any culinary education. However, for the most part, the cost has to be covered by the participating student. The average cost with room and board for schooling at a well-recognized culinary institution falls between $25,000 and $30,000 per year.
Attending gastronomy school is all about learning new skills and obtaining substantial knowledge about terms applied in the kitchen as well as the basics of table service. The focus is typically on master classes which are completed annually as part of continuing education process. Several culinary job opportunities exist, and with good educational background at a culinary school, many chefs become executives for large food chains or participate in research and development while cultivation their love for food.