Should I study culinary arts? 👩🏽‍🍳

Have you ever dreamed of being on Master Chef?

Consider a degree in culinary arts!

If you're unsure about what it takes to make it in the culinary world — a culinary arts degree will help you master cooking techniques, discover unique taste combinations, and receive real-world experience.

There are many reasons why studying culinary arts might interest you — maybe you want to make mouthwatering pastries or open up your own Michelin star restaurant — whatever your goals, one thing all culinary arts students share is having a passion for food.

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As long as you're passionate, culinary schools are great for teaching you all the basic cooking skills and terminology that a chef would be expected to know on the job.

• The function of different knives and how to consistently care for them.

• Different roles in a kitchen: butchery, sauce making, pastry, cold foods, hot appetizers, fish, and meat.

• The proper guidelines for food handling to prevent illness and an unsanitary environment.

• How to make foods look desirable by plating meals properly.

• The trends in the restaurant industry, best practices, and business-oriented skills. study and practice cuisines from all over the world.

• Build relationships with successful chefs and instructors.

• Internships or externships that offers experience in a restaurant or hotel setting.

• How to balance working multiple projects at once, in a fast-paced environment.

• Managerial skills and how to handle the business side of the culinary industry.

Culinary school opens up doors to many different opportunities. A few examples include:

Executive chef

Executive chefs lead and manage a kitchen team, create innovative menus, and ensure food quality.

Pastry chef

Pastry chefs specialize in baking and pastry arts. They create various baked goods.

Food critic

Food critics try new dishes and share their insights and food recommendations with the public.

Food stylist

Food stylists use their culinary knowledge to enhance the visual appeal of food for TV, magazines, and advertising material.

Photo by Romain Briaux on Unsplash

Once you have an idea of your goals, there are a few steps before applying to culinary school.

Do your research

Schools differ in cost and requirements. Research the entrance requirements and cost of attendance on the school’s website or call the admissions office.

Develop fundamental skills

Start practicing your cooking skills at home. Experiment with different techniques and recipes. This is your time to get creative!

Gain work experience

Finding part-time restaurant work or volunteering locally for a food-based organization will strengthen your application.

Culinary arts combine passion and dedication. Want to succeed in your culinary arts program? The following tips come in handy:

Embrace learning

• Seek guidance from the instructor and ask for help.

• Be open to feedback.

Communication is key

• Effective and clear communication with your instructors and peers is important in order to run a kitchen smoothly.

Pay attention to detail

• The smallest details in cooking can make the greatest impact.

Be creative

• Think outside the box and add your unique touch to recipes.

If you think a degree in culinary arts is the right fit for you: