food for thought...

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Food For Thought
by Karin Evans
Special Advertising Section
How a culinary degree can be a recipe for success
For starters: The food services industry is booming


You probably know that that higher education leads to higher earnings. However, it isn't just having a degree that's important; the subject you study plays a key role in determining whether your credentials are a passport to a successful career. A degree from a culinary or cooking school could provide just that.

After the travel industry, the food service industry is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy. The restaurant trade in particular is booming, and Americans are eating out more than ever.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that job openings in the industry will be plentiful through at least 2010. Demand for qualified staff is increasing most rapidly at the top end of the market, which is where the executive chef positions and higher salaries are to be found. The healthy state of the restaurant industry is good news for anyone wishing to pursue a culinary career today. Here's how you can get started:

Main course: A degree in the culinary arts
The educational training you receive in a culinary degree program can provide you with the knowledge and expertise to work in whichever sector of the industry you choose. Orlando Culinary Academy and California School of Culinary Arts can equip students with the broad-based, hands-on experience they need to make the most of the diverse, rewarding career opportunities in the culinary and hospitality industries.

A quality culinary degree program provides students with the skills and knowledge they need to master recognized traditions, learn about the latest innovations, and, ultimately, develop a unique style as a chef. Students can learn the theory and the practice, from the technicalities of food safety to the techniques of classical French cooking, and get a feel for the realities of the restaurant business, bolstered by placements spent gaining valuable hands-on experience. Programs such as those offered at California School of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Miami and Orlando Culinary Academy include placements that put students into real-life restaurant environments, providing opportunities to gain practical know-how and make valuable contacts within the industry.

There are several other schools associated with the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta* or Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas** each offer quality training in exciting locations. The Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Program at Brown College offers industry-current facilities in which to perfect your techniques and release your creativity.

Just desserts: A career that suits your tastes
There are many types of culinary degree programs to choose from, so it is important to consider your goals within the industry. If you are interested in the management side of the industry, programs at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute or California Culinary Academy provide the relevant knowledge to develop your business acumen. Alternatively, California School of Culinary Arts offers a high-quality Le Cordon Bleu Restaurant Management Certificate, and Western Culinary Institute offers a Hospitality and Restaurant Management program designed to get your career started fast.

Cooking was once seen as either a hobby or a chore. Now it is rightly regarded as a highly skilled profession within a multi-billion dollar industry. The restaurant industry is the biggest employer in the U.S. besides the government, with 11.7 million employees--that's 9 percent of all people employed in the country. By 2012, it is estimated that the number of employees will rise to 13.3 million. There is clearly a bright future for anyone training in culinary arts today.

It may be your dream to work as a chef in the high-pressure and exciting environment of a busy restaurant. Or you may prefer a career as a nutritionist at a peaceful health resort. Whatever you chose to do with your culinary degree, the right program for you will open the door to an exciting career within a dynamic, evolving industry.

*Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Atlanta is a branch campus of Western Culinary Institute, Portland, OR.
**Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas is a branch of Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Scottsdale, AZ.

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