Culinary school internship programs are a vital part of the education and training process as you work towards a career as a chef or as any other type of culinary professional. During your internship you will not only improve and refine your skills in the kitchen, you will also make contacts in the culinary industry and learn how the restaurant business works. Your school may require a three-month or six-month internship, in which case you must find a program that fulfills the school’s requirements. Even if your culinary school doesn’t require an internship, though, it is so beneficial that you’d be better off doing it anyway.

There are culinary school internship programs in bakeries, catering businesses, country clubs, food service companies, pastry shops, resorts and, of course, restaurants. The internship you choose should reflect the specific career you want to go into. This temporary and probably unpaid position could potentially lead to a job offer once you’re done with school, so you should definitely choose a place where you would actually want to work.

The first step to getting into a good culinary school internship program is learning about your school’s criteria and what types of programs they will consider for academic credit. You may need to be in good academic standing to qualify for an internship, so make sure you’re keeping up your grades. There may also be prerequisite courses you will need to have taken before you can do an internship through your school, so make sure you have those classes and exams out of the way first.

Before you go any further, at this point it would be a good idea to talk with a career services counselor at your school. Give the counselor a copy of your résumé and tell him or her about your goals; he or she should be able to advise you on a suitable business or restaurant where you can apply for an internship. Then you can begin the process of applying and interviewing for internships. Make the most of this valuable experience—it could be the first real step from school to your dream career.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

So you’re wondering, “Where do culinary school graduates work?” Maybe you are thinking of getting a culinary degree, or maybe you’re just curious. The fact is that culinary graduates can take many different career paths. Some people might assume that the goal of any culinary student is to become a chef. While many culinary grads do take this career path, many other options are available. So, if you’re considering the question, where do culinary school graduates work, read on and see what other options are out there besides simply becoming a chef or cook in a restaurant.

Caterer: If you’re a good planner, this would be an excellent career to go into after culinary school. Caterers can do everything from planning the hors d’oeuvres and dinner menu to choosing the napkin colors to organizing the dishwashing staff for events such as anniversaries, birthdays, parties, weddings and other events.

Cookbook Editor: A culinary school graduate with a flair for the English language and an eye for details would make an excellent cookbook editor. It is important that all the recipes are free from mistakes, and if you have culinary and literary skills you can make sure this happens.

Food Service Manager: People with good leadership skills often become food service managers after culinary school. You will hire the staff, purchase the food inventory, handle all the accounts and make sure the restaurant is running like a well-oiled machine.

Pastry Chef: This is a great option if you want to be a chef and you have a real artistic side as well as a sweet tooth. As a pastry chef you can create everything from cookies and brownies to elaborate candies and pastries to wedding cakes and other spectacular deserts.

Specialty Food Shop Owner: Culinary school graduates with entrepreneurial spirits and the capital to invest may consider purchasing a retail space and starting their own specialty food shop. These shop owners must have culinary knowledge and a good understanding of the foods they’re ordering, so culinary school grads tend to do well in this position.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

Food scientist jobs are important to our society, as these individuals are responsible for researching and developing ways to improve the food and beverage products we consume on a daily basis. The most common career options in this field are as food science technicians because the actual scientists who oversee many of the tests typically have advanced degrees at the doctoral level. The degrees needed for food science technicians are typically bachelor’s degrees, and these important professionals work very close with scientists in all the tests they conduct.

Biological technicians, chemical technicians, environmental science technicians and food technicians all work in similar fields. Food scientist jobs at the technician level require performing tests on food and agricultural products, scrutinizing the results and keeping records under the supervision of a head scientist. You may also be required to maintain inventories of equipment and order lab supplies as needed. You may work in a lab in an urban city or in a more remote location.

The most important career information you need to know is the education and training required for food science technicians. While the top food scientist jobs require doctoral degrees and a great deal of research experience, food science technician jobs may only require a two-year associate’s degree in applied science. Most technicians have bachelor’s degrees in fields such as biology or chemistry, though, which helps boost your resume and salary potential. An internship will also help provide more opportunities to advance your new career in the earliest stages after college graduation.

The average annual salary for food science technicians in the United States is $42,270, but there is room for advancement. The salary may also depend on where you work, what kind of lab you work for, where you went to school and how much experience you had when you started the job. And who knows, maybe you’ll even decide to continue your education and pursue the top food scientist jobs with the responsibilities of managing entire laboratories. With additional education you can do just about anything in this field.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

Chef de cuisine jobs require quite a bit of experience, training and talent; this is definitely not a position you can expect to hold straight out of culinary school. The chef de cuisine is a French term for the professional chef who is in charge of the kitchen, which in American English would translate to the executive chef or head chef. The chef des cuisine salaries range from $30,000 a year at a prepared foods company to $80,000 or more at a fine restaurant in a big city.

There are chef de cuisine jobs in all sorts of restaurants in every city, as well as in prepared foods and catering companies, hotels, resorts, cruise ships, retirement communities, government or corporate offices and other hospitality-related facilities. Typically, the chef de cuisine is the one in charge who creates the menus and leads the team, but in a chain restaurant or hotel or cruise ship setting, there may be strict limitations as to what can be prepared and served. The most prestigious chef de cuisine jobs are in the restaurants that are owned or operated at least in part by the chef de cuisine because the chef will thus have complete control over their menu.

A chef de cuisine will typically have a sous chef working as a direct assistant who is considered to be the second in the chain of command. Beneath that are the chefs de partie, also known as station chefs or line cooks, who will be in charge of a specific area of the food production such as preparing the meats or chopping the vegetables. Then there are the expeditors who take orders from the dining room to relay to the kitchen and perhaps put finishing touches on the dishes.

Chef de cuisine salaries vary greatly depending on such factors as the prestige of the restaurant or facility, the city it is located in, the experience of the chef and many other factors, but it is a job with many rewards for those who enjoy using their creative talents in the kitchen.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts College today and start your path to a rewarding career.

Becoming a presidential chef is an extremely high honor, and one that is only bestowed on a new chef every several years.  Some chefs are able to make this their career for many years, spanning numerous presidencies.  Most of the time, however, these jobs last four to eight years depending on how long one president is in office for.  Since the First Lady picks the presidential chef, most want to leave their own legacy on White House entertaining.  So what exactly does a presidential chef do?  It is certainly different from any other culinary arts job out there.  

Presidential chefs do not usually apply for the job; it is typically the First Lady who seeks them out, after which they must go through rigorous tastings to be sure they are up to the task.  This is not one of the career options that any chef-in-training should assume they can just work their way up to – this is a rare position that is extremely difficult to obtain.  The presidential chef cooks all the meals for the first families, including children, and heads up the food preparation for all major White House events.  They have a full staff working beneath them and a fully stocked kitchen with all the first family’s favorites, and are prepared to do everything from cooking daily meals to coordinating catering for formal affairs. 

The career information for this job is straight to the point – you earn $80,000 to $100,000 a year, you must be available to work all the time, you must live in Washington DC, and there have never been chefs in this position who did not have culinary degrees and extensive experience.  The chef that Hillary Clinton hired, Walter Scheib, worked in the White House for 11 years before Laura Bush decided to let him go and promote his assistant, Cristeta Comerford, who was the first and only female presidential chef in the United States.  She still holds this coveted position, so any culinary arts superstars looking to get into the White House might have to wait a few years before another opening is available.   

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

There are many different culinary industry associations for all types of chefs and for the food service world in general. These culinary organizations can serve as great resources whether you are a professional chef, a head chef, an aspiring chef, a culinary student or any other player in the gastronomic industry. The following are considered to be the top 10 culinary organizations in food-industry circles:

1. The American Institute of Wine & Food: This educational nonprofit organization is dedicated to the pleasures, benefits and traditions of the table, with 31 chapters in the U.S. as well as a chapter in France.
2. Chefs Collaborative: A national network of more than 1,000 food community members supporting sustainable cuisine through local, seasonal and artisanal cooking.
3. International Association of Culinary Professionals: This 30-year-old group is one of the largest culinary industry associations, with more than 4,000 members in 32 countries. It is a nonprofit professional association that provides continuing education and professional development and sponsors the annual IACP Cookbook Awards, among other things.
4. The James Beard Foundation: This nonprofit organization was founded in 1985 on Julia Child’s suggestion to espouse the philosophy, ideals and practices of James Beard, the father of American gastronomy.
5. National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc: The NASFT has 19,000 members including manufacturers, distributors, importers, brokers, foreign government offices and other suppliers of specialty foods.
6. National Restaurant Association: This is the definitive membership-based business association in the restaurant industry with more than 30,000 members representing more than 175,000 restaurants since 1923.
7. New York Women’s Culinary Alliance: The NYWCA promotes cooperation and education among women in the food industry.
8. Roundtable for Women in Foodservice: For 17 years the RWF has organized foodservice professionals while providing educational, mentoring and networking opportunities to enhance the development and visibility of women. There are 10 U.S. chapters.
9. Slow Food: This is the largest of all the culinary organizations in the world. They are committed to supporting and promoting quality food and beverage patrimony.
10. Women Chefs & Restaurateurs: The WRC promotes the education and advancement of women in the restaurant industry, as well as the betterment of the industry as a whole.

Institutions offering quality Culinary Arts Programs include The International Culinary Institute at the Art Institutes, Le Cordon Blue Schools, The French Culinary Institute, The Culinary Institute of America and Johnson & Wales University.

Find the perfect Culinary School or Culinary Arts Program today and start your path to a rewarding career.

If you are one of those who love spending time in preparing different foods or like to work with people in food decoration then making a career in culinary industry can surely be the most appropriate decision. In fact, the culinary industry can be the excellent place to start and make your living. If we talk about the scope and future prospects of this industry then we can easily see that it is emerging as one of the most preferred fields among young students. Starting from restaurants, private clubs, resorts, hotels, cruise lines, etc. you have numerous options to work as a chef, pastry chef, food preparation worker or restaurant and hotel managers.

Today as per the recent study done by the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics, the culinary industry symbolizes one of the top growing professional categories in the nation. In United States alone, there are near about 900,000 restaurant locations. Adding to this, the industry is also the prime source of daily more than 12.2 million employees. Apart from this, as per the recent observations made by some of the industry experts, the projected annual sales are growing at a good and steady rate of almost 5% a year, which is definitely better than many other industries. In addition to this, it is also estimated that by 2014, the restaurant industry will have need of other 1.5 million workers as chefs, caterers, food critics and restaurant managers. So if you are actually deciding to learn both classic and modern culinary techniques, kitchen management skills, and the multiplicity of culinary arts, its better you complete your culinary education and get your culinary degree today. While an associate culinary degree targets the fundamental skills and cuisine studies required for making a variety of foods, bachelor’s degree on another hand provides the same foundation and management knowledge that in turns educates you for leadership in and beyond the kitchens and bakeshops.

You must understand that a culinary degree can provide you an advantage when it comes to getting yourself in at a high-end restaurant, even if you don’t have a lot of practical experience. At a top culinary school, you actually gain knowledge of all the art and science behind the flavors and learn new skills required for working in the culinary field. You can know more about a wide variety of cuisines and different theories about foods. In fact, your culinary education at top culinary schools can help you gain the theoretical foundation of cooking as well as hands-on practical exposures in different major areas like:

Patisserie and Baking which teach you more about the baking arts in custards, breads, confections, etc.
Hospitality and Restaurant Management which provides you training in finances, management, and business operations

At the end, you decision of choosing a best culinary school also plays a very vital role. Therefore, before you select the culinary school make sure it has all of the following:

• A proven history of high graduation and employment rates.
• Alumna with successful careers along with smart salaries.
• Good and successful alumni networks.

Today it might be very possible that the most respected or greatest chefs possibly have never enrolled themselves into a culinary school. They actually got their fame and positions due to their talent and good work, but yet it is important to understand that have a good knowledge of the field always pays you well. A proper training and education from a good and renowned culinary school can help you propel and enjoy to bigger opportunities in the future of culinary industry.

In the last few years, the culinary industry in the United States has witnessed a broad expansion. Generally, termed as a very broad umbrella, this industry has even gone through tremendous changes. If we talk about the living standards people going out to full service restaurants has increased. Adding to this, in terms of jobs it has also emerged as the fastest growing business segment in the country. Apart from this, the ratio of people interested in making a career in the culinary industry has also grown phenomenally. Today it is one of the few industries that feature thousands of different job profiles. So, if you are looking forward to making a career in this industry, here are some of the major options that you can consider-

Restaurant Manager - If you are serious about a restaurant management career then this could be the best possible option. Earning a degree in restaurant management can help you learn skills that may help you in managing employees and creating a financial plan regarding your restaurant business. Working as a restaurant manager, your key responsibility will revolve around keeping your restaurant operation at a profit. While in a small restaurant, you could be the owner and handle the business end of the operation, in a big restaurant; you may be more administrative oriented. Restaurant Management Degrees

Cafeteria Manager - Working as a cafeteria manager, you could be the key personnel responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a cafeteria. As we all are aware of the fact that cafeteria is described as dining rooms where we have foods within various institutions like schools as well as in some large companies, so you may even require planning menus, ordering necessary supplies, food, and other ingredients. Adding to this, at times you may also require maintaining the inventory of those ordered goods when they are received by the cafeteria.

Chef - If you are one of those who have a deep passion towards cooking and preparing different cuisines then making a career as a chef might be the most appropriate and feasible choice. In fact, this is one of the few professions in the culinary industry that has always pulled the attention of many young students. The profession not just involves cooking different dishes; you may even be the key personnel responsible for planning the menu and determining the price of different food items. However, at times, you may even require preparing the specialties of the restaurant or cook your own recipes These days many large hotels including restaurant chains also hire chefs who coordinate in the budgeting and planning of all the food operations. Learn how to become a chef

Food Critic - It is yet another important and can be the most exciting career option for all those who love food. The best feature of this profession that makes it special is you can enjoy being paid to eat fabulous meals or cuisines at any of the world’s finest restaurants. All you have to perform is giving your opinion once you have a proper taste. These days, many restaurants refer food critics write reviews on the meals that they ate or the restaurant they visited. Besides this, if you are more interested in writing then you may even join local newspapers or national magazine publications.

Caterer - Earning a degree in culinary arts also provides you an opportunity to make a career as caterer. Working as a caterer your key responsibilities will be preparing quality foods, but it may also vary as per your customers’ needs. The profession demands more than delivering and serving foods. Being as a caterer, you may require preparing menus, or supervising the preparation activities and ensuring on time and proficient service. Research Cafeteria Management Degrees

These are some of the most feasible career options that you can enjoy after completing your culinary degree. Today if we carefully observe the present scenario, the job outlook is definitely above average and in next few years it is even estimated to increase further. This is one of its own kinds of industry where you can enjoy a great career growth only if you have a passion for food and love being creative.

Ever thought for a moment about vendors selling eateries in theatres and concierge in 5 star hotels? Interestingly, both belong to the hospitality industry. The hospitality industry has a wide reach spanning health spas, hotels, museums, resorts, travel, tourism, cruise ships, amusement parks and casinos. It is one of the biggest industries in the world.

The competition in this industry is intense particularly for higher positions. As such, it makes sense to pursue higher education in this field. Several institutions offer programs catering to educational needs of this industry through diplomas, certifications, Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Course content covers industry standards and practices, hospitality management, convention and meeting planning, destination services management; travel and tourism, recreation related industries, purchasing fundamentals, food and beverages. By attending hospitality management courses through an educational institution, future workers may gain the edge that will help them to succeed in this dynamic field. Even better, qualifications can be acquired through online mode in most cases. Moreover, working staff can work and study simultaneously.

The hospitality industry has a robust forecast in terms of growth. The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics has indicated that employment in hotels and other accommodations is expected to increase by 17% in the coming decade. Salaries vary depending on the job role. For example, in 2004, lodging managers drew median annual incomes of $38,000 with the top end at $72,000.Additionallly, yearly performance bonuses and lucrative discounts add flavor to hospitality careers.

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes is a preferred destination for culinary management degrees offering quality education. Following it closely are Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America and Le Cordon Bleu International with an established track record of long standing excellence in imparting education. The French Culinary Institute and The Culinary Institute of America continue setting high standards in imparting quality programs.

Entertainment management is a new discipline in management being offered at Master’s level. There are several programs at Associate and Graduate level alongside diplomas catering to this field. These are termed as Fine Arts like BFA and allied education. The purpose of this post-graduate management discipline is to equip aspiring students to transition smoothly into management careers within the entertainment industry.

Managing facilities like sports, theaters, museums, live music locations, art galleries, broadcast media companies and night clubs is a critical theme of entertainment management. The Master’s degree prepares students in gaining in-depth understanding of industry along with knowledge of business standards and practices. A sizable portion of the course work is through practical exposure to the industry by way of field work and lectures by industry leaders. The discipline requires high level of creativity, idea generation, effective communication, networking, marketing and problem-solving skills.

As per Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth is expected to be equal to national average until 2014. Hence, job prospects are bright especially for those with right qualifications and throw up opportunities as consultants, executives and other attractive positions in this field. The average starting salary in 2004 for individuals with an entertainment business management diploma was $60,059 as per BLS.Possessing a Master’s degree can only mean higher remuneration than that.

Entertainment Management programs are offered at several institutions including International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes and Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America. The former offers host of programs across multiple locations whereas the latter provides current courses well suited to changing needs of students. Joining its peers are Le Cordon Bleu International and The French Culinary Institute offering world class instructors imparting incomparable training through practical exposure. Completing the list is The Culinary Institute of America that has set standards of excellence for the group.