Cooking Schools

Too Cool For Cooking School

It used to be the pure passion for cooking was enough to get you started on the path to being a professional chef. Not anymore! The cooking field has become so competitive, meaning that now a degree is usually required in order to be successful. This is just one of the many reasons why cooking school is a great idea for those who desire to become professional chefs. Before you can attend cooking school, evaluate yourself to find out what you are looking for in a school—and then find a cooking school that matches your needs.

A Higher Education

There are many different cooking schools that accept aspiring chefs. However, not all of them are the same. It is important to understand your own personal criteria before applying to any culinary schools. Many cooking schools focus on one specific are of cooking. For example, some schools will focus on baking and pastries. Other schools are designed to focus on a specific cuisine—Italian, Mexican, Japanese—the list goes on and on! Identifying your goals as a chef is part of the process you will undergo before applying to culinary school.

Are You Cut Out For The School?

Culinary school is not for everyone. The professors and teachers at culinary school are usually very critical of every dish that is presented to them, expecting no less than perfection. Therefore, someone looking to attend culinary school must always strive for perfection. It is important to be able to take criticism constructively, and to admit that your dish might not be the bets.

The cooking industry in general will expect a lot of a chef; therefore, cooking school imposes similar expectations. Most chefs have to work more hours during the evenings and during weekends, because this is when the prime time is for the restaurant business. To prepare you, culinary schools will often impose similar schedules. Be prepared to make sacrifices, but also be prepared to have a lot of fun.

Worth It In The End

Like most things in life, becoming a professional chef will not come easily. You will have to make sacrifices and work very hard. However, once you have graduated from a cooking school, there are so many options available to you. A beginning chef can earn anywhere between $28,000 and $35,000 per year—and with experience, this number will surely rise. Get your degree in cooking to expand the opportunities you will have throughout your life.