Are you passionate and deeply in love with the art of cooking? Do you wish to learn more on the fundamentals of food preparation and hone further your kitchen skills? If you agree with both questions, then enrolling yourself in a cooking school is perfect for you.
Cooking schools nowadays are not scarce in number. In fact, there are plenty of culinary schools offered in the country. Because of its great number, choosing the right cooking school can be quite difficult. It is highly preferable to have an easy access on the internet and your local directories. You can use these resources to contact and to know more on the different cooking schools. You should browse on promotional pamphlets and visit school websites. Here are following things to research on in order to find the best cooking school for you to study in:
1. Location, Cuisine and Finances
In your search for the right cooking school, the first step is to do inquiry on the cooking schools you would like to enroll in. You should place grave focus on the location, types of cuisine and the price of cooking courses of each cooking school.
With regard to location, it is best for you to select the one nearest to your residence. This will save you more time are saved in traveling to and fro. Another thing to consider is the type of cuisine you want to focus on. Knowing what cuisine you want to be solely competent with will narrow down your options. As for the financial aspect, you should also check out how much money you should spend in order to avail their culinary education. You can search for the financial programs offered by each school. These can assist you with the expenses. Do pick the school that fits well with your budget.
2. School Visit
After brushing on these basic details, allot some time in visiting each cooking school. Try sitting in and observing the flow of their actual classes. Assess if you feel comfortable with the classroom ambiance and the class protocols. You should also take note of the student-teacher ratio. A smaller number of students is preferable. It will give the instructor enough time to focus on each student. If given the opportunity, do converse with the students. Ask them their honest evaluation of the school’s curriculum, scheduling and the effectiveness of their instructors’ teaching methods.
3. Accreditation
See also if the school is accredited. Accredited schools are those who have been existent for a minimum of five years. Culinary schools with accreditation mean that they had passed the standards of quality culinary education.
4. Externships
Cooking schools with externship opportunities are valuable perks. Schools that offer training in a real kitchen restaurant setup can improve your time management and cooking skills. You are also given a chance to assume the position of a real chef prepping up some sumptuous dishes and at the same time, collaborate with other sous chefs. These immersions can pave the way to multiple job offers if perceived to be passionate and talented in cooking by varied employers.
5. Employment Assurance
One important criterion in determining the quality education of a school is reflected on the employment status of its graduates. Take time in investigating the statistics of graduates who have a work related to the field of culinary arts. A very good cooking school usually gives career guidance seminars and programs that assist students in finding appropriate food establishments to work with.
A comprehensive research is a smart approach when you are still discerning which cooking school to go to. Interviews and school visits are equally important. These two gives you the intuition and feeling if you fit soundly with the cooking course or not. Take advantage if the school gives you an opportunity to sit in and observe their class in action. Reflect also if your daily schedule falls well with your cooking classes. This will prevent unwanted hassles. It is a plus if the school you decide to go is accredited, has externship programs and yields happily employed graduates. Indeed, careful selection of a cooking school can pave your way to an exhilarating gastronomic career.