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Why Attend Culinary Arts School?
Why Attend Culinary Arts School?
People are making more money and are taking more vacation time. This amounts to more dining out for people seeking that ultimate restaurant experience. So what does this mean for you? That it is an excellent time to begin a career in the field of culinary arts.
Culinary arts are for people that are creative, passionate, and love anything and everything to do with food. Creative meaning you can combine flavors and textures to make a unique dish. Passion defined as you being in the kitchen since you were old enough to talk. Love meaning you are so dedicated to cooking that you spend hours in the intense heat of the kitchen to create your latest masterpiece. If this is you, culinary arts education is the perfect career.
This still leaves the question, why attend culinary arts school? Why not find an entry-level position in a kitchen and learn the trade? If you desire to be an Executive Chef in an upscale restaurant, the best opportunities are available through formal training and experience. That is why you should attend a culinary institute!
Culinary arts schools grant you a broad understanding of cooking techniques and principles that you would miss out on if you simply took an entry-level kitchen job. You will learn to use different equipment to prepare dishes from various ethnic regions. Building a broad skill set allows you to decide what you enjoy and where to focus your career. Finally, formal culinary training can lead to working anywhere in the world, cooking exotic food in exotic locations - doesn't a culinary arts career sound amazing?
What Does a Chef Do?
Now that you are excited about attending culinary school, you want to know what a chef does. Are you simply a cook? Do you create the menus? It is really up to you.
As a chef, you constantly use your creativity and artistic expression. In creating a menu, you are pleasuring people's palates, tantalizing their taste buds. You combine the elements of taste, texture, and presentation to give people an unforgettable dining experience.
You take on the responsibility of ordering therefore the choice of food is up to you. Whether you want to cook with organic, locally grown foods or create rich, decadent dishes made from imported Italian pastas and cheeses, the choice is yours. You will face new challenges and learning experiences everyday; there is never a dull moment. With a dash of organization and a pinch of people skills, the future is yours to create!
What Cuisines Can I Learn?
Now you are convinced, you want to be a chef. However, you are thinking that you want to learn and specialize in certain ethnic cuisines. Maybe you want to attend a culinary arts school that teaches French cooking, or Asian, Italian, Latin, or Mediterranean. Learn more about these cooking styles below.
- Asian Cooking / Cuisine - This is about balancing textures, temperatures, and flavors. Asian cuisine is diverse and can range from hot curry dishes to more delicately spiced meals. Cooking methods vary and most foods are fried, steamed, or grilled. Typical Asian dishes can include sushi, fried rice or noodles, Kung Pao, and tempura.
- French Cooking / Cuisine - French cooking is diverse. There are regional variations but common dishes can include butter, cream, olive oil, potatoes, duck, or freshwater fish. Common staples throughout France are wine and cheese and any chef must include these items on a French menu. Other typical dishes can include fondue, soufflé, canard au sang, and baguettes.
- Italian Cooking / Cuisine - Italian cuisine also varies regionally. Northern Italy tends to use a lot of butter, cream, and fresh egg pasta whereas Southern Italy focuses on olive oil, dried pasta, and tomatoes. Cooking methods vary but baked dishes are quite common. Typical Italian dishes include risotto, gelato, gnocchi, and vitello.
- Latin Cooking / Cuisine - Latin cuisine is typically intense, colorful, spicy, and varied in flavors. Dishes are usually rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. There are many corn and bean based dishes along with a diverse selection of vegetables and meats. Typical Latin dishes can include arroz con pollo, chiles rellenos, and tamales.
- Mediterranean Cooking / Cuisine - The main staples of a Mediterranean diet are fish, goat, and sheep. Wheat is the basic grain and there is use of filo pastry. Mediterranean cooks use olive oil and lots of vegetables. Typical cooking methods include grilling, roasting, and barbecuing. Common dishes can include hummus, souvlaki, and pastitsio.
These are just some of the many different cuisines and cooking styles available for chefs to learn. Now you can probably see the importance of attending a culinary arts school because there is so much to discover. Whether you want to master the art of French cooking, create health-conscious meals, craft scrumptious pastries, or understand the marriage of food and wine, there is a culinary art school ready for you!
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