Looking to break into the food industry and wondering if culinary school is the ticket in? It all depends on the individual, say the chefs we spoke to.
Culinary school can be a great way for some to launch a career in the food industry, but there are far too many factors making it difficult to know for sure if culinary school is a right fit for you.
Students with no professional experience might find it necessary to achieve basic skills before starting their journey into a fast-paced kitchen environment.
For others, suffering through what can be a brutal, trial-by-fire restaurant atmosphere with no previous culinary training is still the right — and cheaper — way to go.
Either way, the decision to attend culinary school should be a personal choice that benefits you, and not be based on impressing a hiring manager or chef.
“They need that knowledge. It is so important. But being involved in an actual kitchen and working with a chef is a must. They’re both important,” says Steve Tsirtsis, owner/chef at Citrus City Grille in Orange.
He says a degree or certificate is not a determining factor for new hires, but it can help get you in the door.
Whether you have a degree or not, however, expect to start at the bottom, he said.
Chef Ross Pangilinan of Terrace by Mix Mix in Costa Mesa says school is fine for teaching the basics, but nothing beats on-the-job training.
“It’s rare to find someone coming out of culinary school who knows how to do everything, and do all of it at the same time,” he says. “Culinary school sets a good foundation, but learning to cook takes time.”
When hiring cooks, chefs say experience, attitude and work ethic are just as important as a degree from culinary school.
Here are some of the pros and cons of culinary arts:
So when deciding whether cooking school is the right course on the road to a career in culinary, the choice really depends on the individual.
If you learn quickly and can’t afford to spend years paying for culinary school, then you might be better off getting a foot in the door and moving up the hard way. Many famous chefs started out this way.
But if you want to learn the basics, gain focus, and enter the field better prepared, and you have the time and the drive, then culinary school may be right for you.
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