LET?S DIG IN!

One thing is certain. Eating ought to be satisfying and pleasurable.

That is the philosophy of any chef. And that is what I aim for when I step on the platform and receive my diploma.

Food has always been a fascinating creature, everything about food excites me. From a farmer who dedicates himself to grow and take care of his crop, seller who wakes up at 3 AM to haggle with fellow vendors and get the best deals, mother who sniffs and pinches seasonal fruits, to the cook who prepares the meat and chopping veggies?the smell, sight and taste make me go crazy!

So I go on to become a student of Culinary Arts. I want to be surrounded with the thing that I love. Fine culinary schools are everywhere so asking around is not that hard. There?s lots of good info in the internet too (tips, locations, food school finder). Like making sure that the school offers Associate and Bachelor?s Degree programs because some only give diplomas and certificate courses, if they give externship programs and guaranteed job placements after receiving diploma, the curriculum should be extensive and comprehensive covering the basics from working with knives, wet and dry heat cooking, to safety. Some may even have special courses on wines, business and management, pastries, and nutrition. The environment plays a crucial role too. Small classes mean intensified attention so I am sure that my instructors can carefully asses and guide me in every step. Smaller classes mean better concentration. Also it?s a good rule of thumb to anyone who wants to study anywhere in fact to check the school?s background, is it accredited, etc.? A celebrity chef might attract a lot of incoming students, but it also shows that the school is trusted by this personality to attach their name to the establishment. (That?s how it appears to me anyway).

I am more than ready to conquer the culinary world! Hope that I?ll be as famous like Mari Batali.

FOOD SCHOOLS GALORE!

I want to be the best chef. So learning the basics is not the only for me. Studying in the best school comes with a price and having a diploma is a given asset.

Many culinary schools now offer some form of job placement for their students. Find out if your school offers this as well as the details on their job placement program. You ideally want a placement program that actually helps you find a job and that has good contacts in the industry.

Culinary schools are everywhere. It?s astonishing how they pop out almost anywhere. But this only reflects that despite how things may turn out with the uncompromising economy and other factors that affect many businesses that food schools are becoming more popular. Because one thing will never change is no matter what people will always eat. So putting up business that caters to people for them to eat is always a safe bet.

Also, coming from a family who is obsessed with food and eating (of course) it is an easy choice for me to become the chef that I am meant to be. Checking on websites, I found hundreds of culinary schools! I looked into their credentials (most of them are accredited, but some look dubious to me) See they claim they are accredited and so-so but I haven?t heard of a single famous head chef that graduated there. That plays a major decision turn for me. Anyway, I also want to find a fine food school that is near my hometown and is not too steep-high.

Having said that, I found a perfect place for me. The school has nice ambience and small, intimate classes, very hands-on training and I get the option to further my skills by joining other classes nightly after my last one. My night class is all about the business side of the art of restaurant management. Instructors are approachable and many of them, if not all, have worked or working in the food business. So they give us a lot of sound advice. They are nice and easy to talk to, not like other schools (I heard lots of terror stories). Also, they assured us that we will have externships so they can see our real progress outside the classroom.

This is heaven for me! I am surrounded by food, friends and people who share the same passion for food.

FOOD SCHOOL FINDERS KEEPERS

They say that it?s stupid to put a business nowadays, because of the negative economy. But I say, food will always be a necessity and good, reasonably-priced food will always be in demand.

That is why I decided to inquire about the food schools around. I want to enroll. A diploma is an asset and I want to learn everything that involves food, preparation and business side of it.

I found that being in food business is tough but I get to earn a lot if I know the ins- and outs of the industry. Learning food and all that is there to it is more than meets the eye. It?s not just about cooking, preparing food, greeting and serving customers, but it?s highly technical too. From the way you presented the fare on plate, proper handling and preparation. It?s both an art and methodological practice.

Finding food school is easy, finding the best is another matter. Because everyone says they are the best! Searching on the web and looking for personal blogs and home pages of fine culinary schools helped me find the best and suitable one for me.

Accredited, fairly-priced, nice ambience, small classes, and best of all its walking distance from home! (I found around ten in my area which goes to show that food business is doing good.) The scheduling is a consideration too, since I am working part-time in our family business. So I advise to those who want to take classes and serious of being a bona fide chef graduate to get down to business of searching the fitting choice for you.

Studying food is a fascinating and wonderful. It?s my passion. And its in my blood. It?s a different beast out here. But I am ready to beat it, so bring out your spatulas. Let?s get it on!