Find the right culinary school?

[ZoeBird]

Has anyone here ever been to a culinary school? Any kind really. I find so many listed in the PNW area through google but I don't really find out anything about these places or their reputations through their ads. Everyone has a great ad! How are you supposed to choose? I wish schools had "reviews" posted like restaurants do, lol.

Does anyone know of some reputable places that offer seminars or 1-2 day classes anywhere in the PNW region? I'd like to take some classes or seminars before making the plunge into choosing a culinary school.

Any chefs and/or pastry chefs or just foodies who could point me in the right direction? I feel like my compass is spinning! Any advice would be much appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[jacksonholewy]

http://www.culinaryschools.com/choosing-the-right-cooking-school

 

[hisgypsy]

I don't know of any 1-2 day places, but I do know that Johnson & Wales is a very good school. They have different campuses around the country, two I know of are in Rhode Island and Miami, FL.

 

[silverwhisper]

sorry zoe, i live in the NY metro area and don't know a blessed thing about the culinary schools there. however, i suggest considering checking out the bios of chefs at restaurants you like in the area and seeing where they went to culinary school: that might be a helpful guide, i would think.

ed

 

[SweetErika]

sorry zoe, i live in the NY metro area and don't know a blessed thing about the culinary schools there. however, i suggest considering checking out the bios of chefs at restaurants you like in the area and seeing where they went to culinary school: that might be a helpful guide, i would think.

ed

Yep, that and talking to good chefs about schools, the industry, potential career paths, their recommendations on excelling in school and getting your foot in the door, etc., would be how I'd go about it. Who knows, with that kind of legwork, you may very well plant the seeds for a fruitful internship/mentorship or other relationship that could really help you down the road.

I've not heard good or bad things about any specific schools around here, but I have heard culinary school can be extremely pricey and know several people who have started out at technical schools (Lk Washington Technical College, Renton Votech, etc.). A lot of them have good relationships in the industry and career support, and it can be a great way to get the basics without all of the expense of a private school.

 

[ZoeBird]

Thanks for all the info and advice! I have some thinking to do now.

 

[silverwhisper]

erika quoth:
who knows, with that kind of legwork, you may very well plant the seeds for a fruitful internship/mentorship or other relationship that could really help you down the road.

i thought that this particular point merited calling out. :>

ed

 

[unreal2266]

my best advive is to make sure that the school is acredited. No sense going to school if you dont come out certified with your CCC. I went thru culinary school few years back before I joined the army. As far as some of the better schools, I would say CIA in Hyde Park, NY is #1 in the country, followed by the school in St. Louis, and then there are a few in Atlanta. If you only want to go for a couple days a week, you need to check out your local technical colleges, these will have more flexible classes for you.

Hope that helps.

 

[pigdog1977]

I swear I answered this question just recently...

I attended the CIA in Hyde Park, NY and highly recommend it. NECI in Vermont is also pretty good, but doesn't have the name recognition that the CIA has.

A degree from the CIA looks very good on the resume and helps open a lot of doors. When I was still in the business (retired because of back issues), I started at a 10-20% higher wage/salary than non-CIA grads and it was easier to move up in the heirarchy.

The CIA (and the business as a whole) has a VERY high percentage of Gay men (if that matters to you). The GLBT Club at the CIA had something like 600 members out of a student body of 2,000 or so.

As an aside, the Restauant Industry is a very difficult one. It's hard to keep relationships going when you work all major holidays and weekends. There's a lot of drug and alcohol abuse (I smoked 1/4oz of weed a day and would drink a liter to a half gallon of rum or whiskey at a sitting, and there were guys that put me to shame).

Since you need experience to attend the CIA, I would suggest finding the best rated restaurant in your area and working as a prep cook for a while. That will give you a taste of it before you spend the $40,000+ in tuition.

If you want any particulars, feel free to PM me.

M