Best Culinary Schools

A catering qualification can lead the way to a rewarding career in the food and hospitality industry. Enrolling into one of the best culinary schools is the ideal start. There are several to choose from and they offer chef instructors, classroom theory and hands on training using modern equipment. A suitably qualified person can find work in a restaurant, hotel, leisure outlet, cruise ship, specialist food store or supermarket department.

The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City offers diplomas in culinary Arts, Pastry and Baking Arts, and Culinary Management. These programs are for 6 - 11 months and students choose from morning, afternoon, evening or weekend classes with small class sizes. After qualifying, the institute helps students to find work in New York restaurants. As with all the best culinary schools, the essential techniques are taught. The Culinary Arts curriculum includes knife technique and sauce making. Students learn the classic French tradition alongside cuisine from all over the world. Pastry and Baking Arts students learn how to produce confections, cakes, breads, and frozen desserts. The Culinary Management curriculum involves classes that include menu preparation, sanitation, law, marketing, and making a business plan.

The Texas Culinary Academy is situated in Austin and is part of the Le Cordon Bleu program, which involves the classic French techniques. The Culinary Arts program includes food preparation, nutrition, and sanitation and students are given the opportunity to learn in the on site restaurant, Ventana. They are taught how to organise a kitchen and time management. The Patisserie and Baking program teaches the skills needed for a baker, pastry chef, confectioner or chocolatier. They will learn how to make muffins, breads, tortes, sugar decoration, flatbreads, mousses, and puff pastry. The programs are delivered through classroom demonstrations and practical training in the kitchens. This is one of the best culinary schools for an all round education and includes business skills and a General Education component, which includes Math, Psychology, Computer Science and Public Speaking.

The New England Culinary Institute teaches Culinary Arts in their own bakeries, restaurants, and hotel. The curriculum involves Classic Technique, World Cuisine and Food Science and Management. The Bachelor's Degree in Culinary Arts offers three paid internships in some of the best restaurants in the country. The institute also delivers an Associate Degree program. Baking and Pastry Arts students learn the skills for baked goods and desserts. The hospitality and Restaurant Management curriculum includes Technology, Human Resources, Purchasing, and Service. There are also Bachelor of Arts Specialization courses. These are in Sustainability, Wine and Beverages and Baking and Pastry.

The California Culinary Academy is in San Francisco and is also one of the best culinary schools in America. The staff deliver Le Cordon Bleu program. The Culinary Arts curriculum lasts for 60 weeks and involves classic and modern techniques with kitchen management classes. There is a 12-week externship on which students will learn about hygiene, table service, and HR management. The Patisserie and Baking students are there for 40 weeks. Much of their work takes place in the campus restaurant, where they will learn to prepare pastries, basic syrups, icings, pies, cookies, chocolate molding, and sculpturing.