Culinary arts colleges are for anyone with a passion and talent for cooking who wants to pursue a career in the food industry. When you graduate, you will come away with a qualification to prove your ability as a chef. The top culinary arts colleges are spread across the globe, from Australia to South Africa to the United States. Add this to my Recipe Box.
United States
Despite its name, the French Culinary Institute operates in Soho, New York. This culinary arts college has one of the shortest programs around, taking you six months to complete. There are two full courses to choose from: Classic Pastry Arts and Classic Culinary Arts. The final two months of the program are spent cooking in the school's own restaurant, which is Michelin rated.
Located at 35 campuses around America, The International Culinary Schools, a division of the Art Institutes, teaches culinary arts programs that focus on world cuisine as well as programs in culinary management. These colleges also have their own restaurants, which students can not only work in but are completely student run. Or, if preferred, students can go out on an internship in between their studies.
Europe
The DCT Swiss Hotel Culinary Arts School located in Vitznau, Switzerland, offers a two-year program in culinary arts. There are five parts to the program: European pastry and chocolate, European gourmet cuisine, European food and beverage service, European cuisine, and European culinary management. The private culinary arts college offers the opportunity to work at restaurants in Switzerland as you study.
Africa
Located in Cape Town, South Africa, the South African Chefs Academy has educated a Sunday Times Chef of the Year. Every year, 32 budding chefs -- who must be selected -- embark on year-long program. In this program students undergo courses in culinary arts and pastry making and will earn a separate diploma for each skill upon the successful completion of their studies.
Australia
If confectioneries are more your career goal, then the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie Cooking School in Melbourne, established by acclaimed pastry chef Kristen Tibbals, may be for you. After completing your college program at this school you will be an expert at making pralines, cheesecakes, fudge, truffles, French gateaux, and cake design.
International
It may have begun as a cooking school in Paris but Le Cordon Bleu is now an international culinary college with 29 schools set up around the world. A total of 20,000 students attend this college annually. In the space of a year, students complete three cuisine courses: basic, intermediate and superior, as well as the same three grades in pastry training. The superior courses teach you such skills as make artistic sugar creations and master classic haute cuisine. You will graduate with a Le Grand Diplôme Le Cordon Bleu qualification upon completing all courses.
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