Monday, February 14, 2005
California Culinary Schools ~ California Culinary Academy
From the site:
Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, Hospitality & Restaurant Management
Whether you’ve dreamed of becoming an executive chef for a five-star restaurant, pastry artist for a gourmet catering company, or manager of a posh hotel, this is your chance to step out of the ordinary and into an exciting career you’ll truly love. California Culinary Academy offers professional training in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality and restaurant management; with hands-on cooking classes and lecture courses that give you the skills you’ll need for a successful future in the culinary or hospitality field. From unparalleled instruction in classical and contemporary culinary techniques, to business management, wine appreciation, and hotel operations, California Culinary Academy is your first step toward a career in the art of living.
Contact Info:
California Culinary Academy
625 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
415-771-3536
800-BAY-CHEF
Web site: http://www.baychef.com/
California Culinary Schools ~ California School of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu
If you're hoping to rub-elbows with some celebrities in your off-time, The California School of Culinary Arts in LA might be right for you.
Snipped from their website:
Founded in 1994, the CSCA faculty includes highly respected, experienced chefs who turn out confident and successful graduates. We are one of a handful of culinary schools in America to partner with the internationally renowned Le Cordon Bleu-the leading authority on culinary techniques, training, and development for over a century. CSCA offers the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu diplome through four different programs: A 15-month Culinary Arts Associates of Occupational Studies Degree, a 12-month Hospitality and Restaurant Management Diploma, or a 30-week Pâtisserie & Baking Diploma.
This is great! They have a page titled "The Top 10 Reasons to Attend CSCA". It's always a benefit to know what the school believes sets them apart from the pack.
As of today, Feb, 14th, 2005, (Happy Valentine's Day!) CSCA is offering tours. When I visited the site, this came up on a small pop-up ad. If you don't see it, you might want to disable your pop-up blocker, or it may have been discontinued:
Good news! For a limited time, CSCA is offering the opportunity to tour our facilities and learn how you can get a new career for the new year. Tours are held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm and Saturdays at 10am for a limited time! Click Here To Contact Us!
Contact information:
California School of Culinary Arts
521 E Green Street
(626) 403-8490
(626) 403-8494 (fax)
Pasadena, CA, 91101
Web site: http://www.csca.edu/index.asp
New York Culinary School ~ The Natural Gourmet Cookery School
More Americans, celebs for sure, but also the Baby Boomers, are becoming health-conscious and wanting not only to live longer, but to feel good in the process.
We are what we eat, as they say! Here's one school where you can get the education you need to work in the natural foods industry:
The Natural Gourmet Cookery School
More and more people are searching for careers about which they can be passionate - careers that have meaning and purpose and fulfill a sense of social responsibility. Our Chef’s Training Program graduates are living that dream.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION . . .
Our location is among the many reasons to consider the Natural Gourmet Cookery School. Studying in New York City means exposure to the most diverse food culture in the world. A multitude of ethnicities are reflected in the staggering variety of restaurants and specialty food shops throughout the five boroughs. Living here means being a part of the excitement of a city that’s famous for setting food trends; where health-consciousness thrives in a stimulating urban environment. The rich culinary heritage of New York provides the perfect complement to our Chef’s Training Program.
Approximately two-thirds of our students come from outside the New York-Metropolitan area. Our admissions department can assist you with suggestions for short-term housing.
Contact Information:
The Natural Gourmet Cookery School
48 West 21st Street
2nd floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: 212-645-5170
Fax: 212-989-1493
E-mail: info@naturalgourmetschool.com
Web site: http://www.naturalgourmetschool.com/cheftraining.htm
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Florida Culinary Schools ~ W. Palm Beach, The Florida Culinary Institute
The Associate of Science Degree Programs in Culinary Arts and International Baking and Pastry carry the coveted accreditation of the American Culinary Federation. In addition, the Food & Beverage Management Program is a partner in education with the National Restaurant Association. Recently, the college added a Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Culinary Management.
Florida Culinary Institute is recognized as a top ranked culinary arts school in the United States. Located in beautiful South Florida, our students and graduates have access to great career opportunities with help from the career services department at the culinary institute. Success Never Tasted So Good!
Contact Info:
Florida Culinary Institute
2410 Metrocentre Blvd.
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33407
(877) 523-7549 (Toll Free)
(561) 688-9882 (FAX)
e-mail: info@floridaculinary.com
Web site: http://www.floridaculinary.com/
~~~
When I lived in Palm Beach, my favorite restaurant in West Palm was Thai Bay. It's right on the main drag...wait a sec, I'll see if I can grab the info of the net...
Thai Bay Restaurant
1900 Okeechobee Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
561-640-0131
There you go. If you find yourself nearby and like Thai, go there. It's awesome. The ambiance is...well, like every other Thai restaurant, but the food is outstanding, and consistently good.
There's also an hugely popular Italian place a bit of a drive away in Jupiter, called Nick's Tomato Pie. They have New York Style thin crust pizza that is out of this world...and again consistently excellent. Let's see where are they exactly? Be right back...
Nick's Tomato Pie
Indiantown Rd.
Jupiter, FL
I just noticed Nick's also has a new location at the Palm Beach International Air Port. So if you go to FL Culinary, you can try them out when you land!
New York Culinary Schools ~ Manhattan, The Institute of Culinary Education
If you're not used to city living, be prepared for culture shock. Living in or near Manhattan, you won't get a break from the hustle and bustle. There is always that little park there, though. What's it called? Oh right, Central Park. All that green in the heart of Manhattan is truly unexpected and refreshing.
Their Culinary Arts Diploma Program Overview
In our Culinary Arts Diploma Program, students learn the theory, practice and art of cooking. The 610-hour comprehensive curriculum is grounded in ICE's five-point model of skill development: theory, technique, palate training, speed and teamwork. This approach assures that students move quickly yet thoroughly through the program, while learning the elements that are essential for a successful culinary career.
Contact Info:
The Institute of Culinary Education
Map of 50 W 23rd St
New York, NY 10010-5205
Call for Information and Registration:
212-847-0757
Fax: 212-847-0723
CareerDivision@iceculinary.com
General Information
Call: 212-847-0700
Website: Institute of Culinary Education
The Purpose of the Culinary Schools Blog ~ Culinary Schools Worldwide
Comments from current and past students is encouraged, so potential students can get a better idea of what to expect at each school.
My culinary career lasted 7 years. I started as a prep cook and ended as an Assistant Pastry Chef. I left the business to marry and start a family. I worked in Vermont in the summers and Florida in the winters. It was a blast, and I'd do it all over again!
I'll be posting contact information for some seasonal clubs that I've worked for and others in the network that I haven't, on my Culinary Careers Blog. The great thing about working seasonal is the chefs are all connected, and once you get your first job, and show integrity and a strong work ethic, you can easily find your next position with another chef in the network, if you wish. So you never have to worry about your next position.
Did I mention that most of these clubs offer room and board? That is a huge perk when you're just getting started. You can live in some very exclusive areas, too - like Palm Beach Island, minutes from the beach - for free! It doesn't get much better than that. The set-up is usually dorm-style but you don't spend that much time in your room anyway.