Resources To Become A Chef

Culinary school was one of the best experiences of my life. It was where I discovered what I love to do, and that I can not only fit in this culinary scene, but excell and enjoy my life as a chef. It takes a different kind of person to appreciate what happens in an intense restaurant kitchen, and culinary school is the place to experiment and learn the ropes before being thrown into the fire!

There are a few ways to aquire a culinary education and/or the experience that one needs to become a chef. There are the fancy schmancy culinary that cost a fortune, but are very extensive, fun, and are recognized worldwide. These schools include Le Cordon Bleu, The Art Institute, The Culinary Institute of America, and many others. They offer programs that last from 2-4 years and teach many different styles of cuisine as well as nutrition and sometimes basic chemistry necessary for understanding how food is cooked. They usually also cover topics of restaurant management and hospitality.

There are also less extensive, but still accredited vocational schools which usually take about 6-9 months to complete. These schools can be independent or part of a junior or technical college and are usually much more economical. Many times restaurant employers are more interested in your experience or "trainability", making these types of schools great for basic knowledge and understanding of food, cooking techniques, and how to work in a professional kitchen. Make note that unless you are either very, very good at what you do, or very, very lucky, you will not be an executive chef for many years! Experience is essential!

I attended a school in Vancouver, British Columbia called The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. This school was fairly expensive, but not as much as the ones that I mentioned above, and it was also inly a 6 month culinary program, and a 6 month baking and pastry arts program. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I actually enjoyed waking up at 5:30am to drive downtown and get to class. I made great friends, great food and earned the knowledge of French cuisine from some of the best chefs around. If I could do it again I would, and I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking to go to British Columbia.

I have put together a list of resources to look into culinary schools and how to become a chef. These sites should save you time and effort, instead of sifting through all of the websites that can come up short of what your looking for from the search engines.

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