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For Starters: Food services boom in a down economy
It is a well-versed truism that higher education leads to higher earnings. However, in a down economy, it isn't just having a degree that's important; the subject you study plays a key role in determining whether your credentials are a passport to a successful career. A degree from a culinary or cooking school will provide just that. After the travel industry, the food service industry is the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy. The restaurant trade in particular is booming. Americans are eating out more than ever, with the result that sales reached over $400 billion in 2002, up 4% from 2001. The upward trend is set to continue with sales in 2003 estimated to increase by another 4.5%.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that job openings in the industry will be plentiful through at least 2010. Also good news is the fact that 31% of restaurant income in 2002 was used for salaries and wages. Demand for qualified staff is increasing fastest at the top end of the market, which is where the executive chef positions and higher salaries are to be found.
Main Course: A degree in the Culinary Arts
The healthy state of the restaurant industry is good news for anyone wishing to pursue a culinary career today. The educational training you receive in a culinary degree program can provide you with the knowledge and expertise to work in whichever sector of the industry you choose. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Orlando and California School of Culinary Arts likewise can equip students with the broad-based, hands-on experience they need to make the most of the diverse, rewarding career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality industries.
A quality culinary degree program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to master recognized traditions, the latest innovations, and develop their own style as a chef. Students can learn the theory and the practice, from the technicalities of sanitation to the techniques of classical French cooking, and get a feel for the realities of the restaurant business, bolstered by placements spent gaining valuable hands-on experience. Programs such as those offered at California School of Culinary Arts and Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Orlando include placements that put students into real-life restaurant environments, providing opportunities to gain practical know-how and make valuable contacts within the industry.
There are other schools also associated with the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta or Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas might be the school for you. The Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown College offers industry-current facilities in which to perfect your techniques and release your creativity.
Just Desserts: A career that suits your tastes
There are many types of culinary degree programs to choose from, so it is important to consider whether certain areas of the industry are likely to suit you better. If the management side of the industry is better suited to your strengths, programs at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute or California Culinary Institute provide the relevant knowledge to develop your business acumen. Alternatively, California School of Culinary Arts offers a high-quality Le Cordon Bleu Restaurant Management Certificate, and Western Culinary Institute offers a Hospitality and Restaurant Management program designed to get your career started fast.
Cooking was once seen as either a hobby or a chore. Now it is rightly regarded as a highly skilled profession within a multi-billion dollar industry. The restaurant industry is the biggest employer in the U.S. besides the government, with 11.7 million employees - that's 9% of all people employed in the country. By 2012, it is estimated that the number of employees will rise to 13.3 million. There is clearly a bright future for anyone training in culinary arts today.
It may be your dream to work as a chef in the high-pressure and exciting environment of a busy restaurant. Or you may prefer a career as a nutritionist at a peaceful health resort. Whatever you chose to do with your culinary degree, the right program for you will open the door to an exciting career within a dynamic, evolving industry.
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Researched and written by Karin Evans
Karin Evans has most recently worked for a government agency researching and writing reports to inform policy. Her previous experience includes sales and marketing at Cambridge University and four years of teaching. She has graduate and doctoral degrees in English Language and Literature with a concentration in cultural studies.
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