CULINARY SCHOOL

has anyone gone through culinary school? . I don't want to do it for the sake of a career, (unless i open up a restaurant, which would be awesome) but because I like to cook, but want to cook like a professional, and make fine, restaurant quality food if I wanted to for friends and family. I think it woukd be kinda neat too.

Any experiences? Thoughts?

Posted by WhiteChocolate
Do you already have a good stable career?

Yes, i do and very happy with it. it's not for career purposes. I really like to cook and I want to learn how to make things from scratch, make sauces, etc.

I know I can just go online/cookbooks for most things but I'm one.of those people who likes to venture and go all out if I'm gonna pursue something. Besides I might want to open up my own restaurant some day, who knows...i

Have you gone.to culinary classes.or.school?

Posted by VanillaExt
I'm sure you could find a community college that offers a couple of classes. Sometimes they offer weekend one day classes i.e. learning to make bread. You could also look into youtube. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I've been to culinary school for a little bit.

I'll look into that, thank you.

Posted by Aggrippina66789
Leos dad was a french chef became a social worker instead....

Ya, I heard they don't pay much and kitchen is brutal, long hours, etc. Just want to learn and know what the professionals know about cooking, get the nitty gritty.

I've known several people that went to culinary school. From what I inderstand, it doesn't give you a leg up. All you learn are knife skills.

All the best chefs I know (both professionally and personally) are self taught. Or at least not 'classically trained'.

Posted by Andalusia
I've known several people that went to culinary school. From what I inderstand, it doesn't give you a leg up. All you learn are knife skills.

All the best chefs I know (both professionally and personally) are self taught. Or at least not 'classically trained'.

I've been teaching myself, cook books, internet, etc.

I might just be watching too much "Top Chef", "Chopped" and all those other cooking shows. Lol

Posted by WhiteChocolate

Posted by Greentea

Posted by WhiteChocolate
Do you already have a good stable career?

Yes, i do and very happy with it. it's not for career purposes. I really like to cook and I want to learn how to make things from scratch, make sauces, etc.

I know I can just go online/cookbooks for most things but I'm one.of those people who likes to venture and go all out if I'm gonna pursue something. Besides I might want to open up my own restaurant some day, who knows...i

Have you gone.to culinary classes.or.school?

Yes graduated and worked in the industry for a while.

If you already have a career, it's a great thing to do simply for your self. You could do some side work as a personal chef, but I wouldn't recommend an actual career change.

The culinary industry is basically inhabited by two different kinds of people:

The transients who work there as a supplemental side job or part time college type job

Or

The full time lifers who don't have the social skills necessary (for whatever reason) to have a job in the corporate world

Restaurants are probably the riskiest business venture in existence with a 80% + failure rate within the first year alone.

I can try answering any questions the best I can. I got out of the industry a while ago and got a paralegal certificate and a bachelor's.

click to expand

I heard the restaurant industry is high risk business. I definitely would not.leave the corporate world to start one. I would probably use.it just so I have the knowledge, skill amd know how. I might just take some classes here and there to get better at it. I'd like to get to a point where I can just throw practically "anything" together and still male it a good meal.

Like I said...maybe I've been watching too many cooking shows lately lol

I need to write a foodoir...800 words ughhhh

Look up cooking classes. A new hotel in my town has one 3 times a month.

I did not attend culinary school
And I thought it was interesting that a poster said that their favorite chefs did not attend culinary training
I made under the table part time on Sundays profit over 150 a day for brunch 3 hours. Its a hobby for me. I call myself chef because my community puts in their orders $ 10.00 a plate during this week without my expansion.
Like you I just wanted my family, husband, hungry, and friends to say, WOW! I believe that means you've found your calling. No amount of education nor training can beat someone's passion. Though education is totally beyond what I can describe... Let's just say technical experience is awesome. And so is TV libraries internet restaurants traveling experiments local seminars and of course your kitchen... So many avenues grab on and you will do way better than any executive chef if you have more passion and heart committed than they.

Posted by priorities
I did not attend culinary school
And I thought it was interesting that a poster said that their favorite chefs did not attend culinary training
I made under the table part time on Sundays profit over 150 a day for brunch 3 hours. Its a hobby for me. I call myself chef because my community puts in their orders $ 10.00 a plate during this week without my expansion.
Like you I just wanted my family, husband, hungry, and friends to say, WOW! I believe that means you've found your calling. No amount of education nor training can beat someone's passion. Though education is totally beyond what I can describe... Let's just say technical experience is awesome. And so is TV libraries internet restaurants traveling experiments local seminars and of course your kitchen... So many avenues grab on and you will do way better than any executive chef if you have more passion and heart committed than they.

Yes I enjoy cooking very much, and becoming more of a passion actually, more and more like therapy too. Researching some cooking classes at some local colleges and restaurants. Just for fun and learning new techniques to help me get better. 🙂