Culinary Schools California: 2012

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Viking Range Corporation More Than Just a High End Grill Manufacturer

Viking Range Corporation - More Than Just a High-End Grill Manufacturer

Some of the most innovative inventions stem from someone searching for a product that hasn't been created yet. That's what happened to Fred Carl Jr., the founder of Viking Range Corporation, when he was looking to renovate his home more than twenty years ago. As a fourth generation contractor, he was familiar with the positive and negative attributes of commercial ranges, and noticed them appearing in residential homes. Realizing there wasn't a residential appliance out there that met both the rigors of high-heat restaurant-style cooking yet still conformed to strict building codes, he decided to develop his own hybrid range. After several years of research and development, by January of 1987 Fred Carl Jr. was distributing the first commercial-style residential range.

Today, Viking Range Corporation earns more than 300 million dollars in annual sales and employs more than 1,000 local Greenwood, Mississippi residents. Being a lifelong Greenwood citizen, Carl Jr. just couldn't grow his business anywhere else. With a 87,000 square foot manufacturing plant and several distribution centers located in the Greenwood area, Carl Jr. has not only created one of the largest privately held businesses in the South, but also brought revenue to this depressed small town. Home to cotton, catfish, and the blues, the Mississippi delta region is one of the most impoverished in the nation, which is all the more reason to praise Carl Jr. for his commitment and dedication to his hometown.

Carl Jr., in fact, has reinvigorated a dilapidated downtown, known as historic Cotton Row, and converted many abandoned buildings into Viking destinations. A Viking Mecca, so to speak, with 23 restored buildings and still counting. The Viking headquarters takes up two blocks of downtown and is located near Viking's Alluvain Hotel and Spa, a luxury hotel and 7,000 square foot spa that entertains not only Viking dealers and sales representatives, but also customers and would-be customers who want to tour the Viking plant or take a cooking class at the nearby Viking Cooking School. But even if you don't make the pilgrimage to Greenwood, you can still test out your cooking skills on a Viking range at any of the 16 Viking Cooking Schools scattered across the country. These state-of-the-art demo and lecture-style Viking classrooms draw more than 70,000 students annually and offer classes from regional cuisine to formal cooking and grilling techniques.

Over the years, Carl Jr. has added high-performance appliances to the Viking line up. From the first Viking outdoor grill in 1997 to a full outdoor kitchen line up in 2004, Carl Jr. has developed appliances for the Viking indoor and outdoor kitchen that exceed expectations. The newest line is the Designer Series, a full line of appliances that appeals to the homeowner looking for a more contemporary, streamlined design that can be integrated into existing cabinetry. It's a more modern look with a more competitive price point.

Viking manufactures virtually every appliance for the home including ranges, ovens, cook tops, dishwashers, refrigerators, and freezers. Countertop appliances such as toasters and blenders and cutlery also bear the Viking brand name. All products are manufactured in the United States and sold worldwide. And if you think that Viking only produces stainless steel appliances, think again. Hot new colors from cobalt blue to racing red define a cooking space and visually entertain the eye, creating the perfect blend of high-performance output with trend-setting style.

Even with the economic downturn, Viking Range Corporation has a bright future with its powerhouse appliances offering trend-focused styling and durable construction. Carl Jr. has created a lifestyle brand synonymous with a luxury lifestyle that many strive to live.

Top Culinary Schools in America

In the US, as per the National Restaurant Association (NRA), restaurants and hotels are one of the biggest private sector employers. With the hospitality sector at its most developed stage, careers in culinary have grown to become extremely popular. Culinary career is not only rewarding when it comes to job satisfaction, it is also decent when it comes to chef salaries. So if you have great interest in cooking, then you can join some of the top culinary schools in America so that you can live your dreams.

Best Culinary Schools in America

In the US, there are numerous career opportunities for those who wish to make careers in culinary related fields. So no matter whether you want to be a chef or you wish to be skilled in bar tending, these culinary art schools have programs for all of you. The schools mentioned below are some of the top culinary schools in America. The list is random and the schools have been put in any specific order.

International Culinary Schools at the Arts Institutes The International Culinary Schools at the Arts Institute is considered to be the biggest culinary institution in US offering culinary degrees to more than 20 associate culinary schools. Founded in 1975, this 30 year old institution is known for providing excellent placements and experienced faculty. It is one of the top culinary schools in America and not only you learn skills of cooking, you are also able to learn numerous aspects of management of restaurants.

Institute of Culinary Education, NYC Institute of Culinary Education, founded in 1975, is known for providing excellent culinary education. To get admission into various programs of culinary, students must complete two years college education or must have at least 2 years of work experience. Students from all across US come to study in this top rate culinary college.

California Culinary Academy (San Francisco) One of the finest culinary colleges in San Francisco, US, the California Culinary Academy (San Francisco) is known for its various programs like culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality and restaurant management. It is undoubtedly one of the top culinary schools in America.

Texas Culinary Academy It has been fifteen years since the establishment of Texas Culinary Academy and it has evolved to become one of the best culinary institutes in the US. Located in a sprawling campus of 73,000 square foot, this institute teaches you everything about cooking.

French Culinary Institute, NYC The ultimate French technique when mixed with American dynamism leads to an epicurean's delight. Located in NYC, the French Culinary Institute has been known to be a modern culinary school producing some of the best chefs all across the world. It also boasts of its faculties which include some of the famous chefs from across the world.

Some Other Popular Culinary Schools in America Here are some other institutes that need worthy mention as some of the most popular culinary schools in the US. Scottsdale Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Los Angeles L'Academie de Cuisine, Washington, DC Johnson & Wales University New England Culinary Institute Sullivan University (At the National Center for Hospitality Studies) - Louisville, Kentucky Western Culinary Institute (Cordon Bleu) Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts at Minneapolis/St. Paul Pennsylvania Culinary Institute The School of Culinary Arts - Kendall College-Chicago-Illinois Culinary Institute, Hyde Park NY Best Online Culinary Schools in America

Thanks to the online education programs that now you can learn the nuances of culinary arts by taking some online degree education. You can learn various aspects of culinary education by taking diplomas, certifications and degrees from the following popular online universities. The online programs of these colleges is recognized all across the US and is known as a reputed certification. You can visit websites of each of these colleges and know more about their application procedures and programs offered. DeVry University University of Phoenix Virginia College Strayer University Ashford University Kaplan University Penn Foster Career School Penn Foster Schools Ashworth College Fortis College Glion Institute of Higher Education Meritus University Online Remington College So this was all about some of the top culinary schools in America and if you're interested in this field, then make sustained efforts to enter any of these colleges and make a bright career. is very decent and so you don't have to worry much about monetary benefits. Wish you all the best!

The Benefits of Going to Culinary School

If there's one thing that our society will never lose interest in, it's food. Being one of the lucrative industries in our culture, it's no secret that learning the culinary arts can offer an incredibly promising career path. A culinary school can offer dozens of opportunities for those interested in educating themselves in the field.

Let's begin with a simple truth. While choosing to further your education in the culinary arts is something that appeals to almost all ages and demographics, it certainly helps to start young. Most culinary schools offer scholarship programs with many affiliated high schools, which will significantly help with the cost of the schooling.

Due to the expensive nature of the culinary schools, attending while you're young often tends to be the most financially viable as most people generally have very little fiscal responsibilities when they're in their teens. Plus, with the extra stamina and flexibility, you'll also be able to handle more of the stress and time-consuming aspects of the business.

Regardless, there's still plenty of perks to be had in educating yourself in the culinary arts at an older age. In fact, attending these courses in your 20's and 30's can actually be much more personally rewarding. As you get older, you tend to have a stronger focus on your life goals and are much more interested in fulfilling a lifelong passion.

Plus, if you're a hard-working, older individual with a lot less time on your hands for education, these schools also offer courses that are a bit more concentrated. Many offer specialty courses that allow you to focus on specific cooking programs, such as Thai or French Cuisine.

The hard truth is, once you've finished your courses, you'll have to pay your dues; and it isn't always the most glamorous work. Like it or not, a lot of graduates may even find themselves working as a cook - not a chef - toiling away long hours in dive restaurants or hospital cafeterias.

However, if you're business-savvy and spent enough years learning the ropes of the industry, you can easily enter into the restaurant business yourself. With the right staff, the right location, and the right set of ethics, there's serious potential to make an astronomical amount of money.

Aside from the money-making aspect, there's still one major perk that supersedes them all. Not only will the things you learn in culinary school be used on the job, they'll also be used in your personal life. Can you imagine a world where you wield the power to always make a delicious meal? If that sounds as good to you as it does to us, then you should definitely start thinking about a career in the food industry.

Recognized Culinary School

The culinary school provides several international recipe programs for the students. The professional and adroit chef and cooks present the practical learning of international dishes. These schools give many short term and long term programs. The culinary institutions give wide knowledge of variety of national and international meals, dishes preparation. The institutes provide excellent methods and process as well as complete knowledge required for food cooking.

United States of America offers various well recognized culinary schools. The culinary schools of America provide experienced, trained chef and cooks who are devoted for teaching entire knowledge of cooking arts to the culinary students. Students are prepared as professionals. Most of the culinary schools provide advance low cost culinary programs. Centers offer cost effective services to the students. The cooking schools offer online culinary training programs so that people learn various methods of food cooking.

Regional Traditional Cooking Programs are provided by professional culinary institutes. The culinary schools offer the learning of various traditional dishes and recipes of many countries. The expert chefs of the institute give the practical of cooking food. The culinary colleges provide various types of programs of cooking, pastry and bakery specialization, wine and beer preparation. It offers advanced degrees or diplomas

The culinary centers offer various international recipe programs for the learners. The professional and adroit chef and cooks present the practical learning of international dishes. These schools provide many short term and long term programs for the students. The entire courses provided by these culinary schools are taught under the direction of trained chef. Culinary centers give the placement facility to the learners in a presumed or reputed restaurants, hotel. The aim of these culinary schools is to improving the fundamental cooking skills with different technique.

Culinary training centers provide unique cooking programs for cuisines specialization. The learners become expert in variety of food preparation and pastry, cake, bakery specialization. These programs make the students pioneering and creative by nature. Lot of culinary school in USA which provide many courses. The culinary tuition provides the information and complete knowledge of food preparation, types, and quantity of spices and ingredients. It teaches many methods for healthy food cooking.

New York Film Schools

New York film schools are included among the best schools for film education in the nation, others being in California and Florida. They teach students everything they need to know about making films. These prime institutions in the nation provide quality education and hands-on knowledge that are required to meet the challenging trends in the film industry. The film industry located in New York City has great advantages in the way of film schools. This is because experienced people in the industry teach most of the classes in these film schools. Hence, students learn more

New York is a state enriched with galleries, museums, historic sites, music venues and other resources suitable for artists. New York City is the largest city in the state with a rich blend of culture, fashion, and art. Both the state and city are well suited for art lovers and film makers and for people studying in related fields.

New York film schools may be either public or private. The private ones are not linked to any of the universities of the United States. The New York Film Academy, based in New York City, is one of the best. The Academy is a unique educational institution and offers classes in filmmaking, acting and animation instruction.

Other popular accredited film schools in the state are The Art Institute of New York City, Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, Briarcliffe College in Patchogue, The Chubb Institute and Wood Tobe-Coburn School in New York City, Katharine Gibbs School in Melville, and the Devry University.

Locating the Top Culinary Schools

People serious about finding a prestigious job as a chef must take the time to make sure that they get the best culinary education possible. They need to do extensive research on the top culinary schools and then choose the one that best fits their own personal needs and goals. Finding the best school isn't always an easy task but it can be done by doing some basic legwork before enrolling.

One of the most important decisions a person can make is selecting an appropriate school for chef training. It is something that must be taken seriously and not done quickly. There are so many things to consider that it will take extensive research. Some schools specialize in certain culinary regions or in specific cooking techniques. Finding just the right school to fit an individual's needs is sometimes overwhelming, but it can be done!

There are many jobs available today in the food service industry. It continues to grow in popularity making it essential for new chefs to have the best training and education they can get. There is a gigantic list of culinary schools listed on the internet and a person needs to sift through them and select only those that look promising. The perfect school is out there, in the right location and at the right price. Most web sites offer schools by state so that the list can be narrowed down quite a bit. Each school is evaluated as to the courses it offers and the tuition it charges. References from former students are sometimes listed as well as other information regarding student loans and intern programs. Most sites give telephone numbers that can be called to get additional information about a particular school.

A person has a better chance of succeeding in a top culinary career by attending a top culinary school. That is why it is important to be very sure that the school selected is well-known and respected for the education it provides. It is recommended to check with high-end food service establishments to see what schools they prefer. Finding the right school sets the pace for a rewarding and lucrative career in the food service industry.

How to Get Financial Aid for Culinary School

Going to culinary school is a wise investment into your future in this exciting industry. However, tuition for top culinary schools can set you back tens of thousands of dollars dependent on the program you choose. Instead of footing your entire tuition bill yourself, look into financial aid. You will be surprised at just how much help you could receive.

Some examples of financial aid available to culinary students include government loans and grants in addition to private financing. The first thing you will want to do is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA. This alone will tell you what kind of government aid for which you can qualify. If no one can claim you as a dependent and you have a low annual income, you will most likely qualify for substantial government aid.

After this, you could also look into a college loan. College loans are designed for young adults who are just starting out on their own, therefore they usually have a considerably low interest rate. Due to government regulation, you will not be required to pay back on your college loan until six months after the time of the loan's issue date.

While a private loan will have a higher interest rate, an advantage to them is that you will not have to make payments until after you graduate or exit culinary school. They also have higher loan limits than college loans. For students not intending to work through school, this could be optimal. To get either a private or a government loan, completing the FAFSA is required.

How to Become a Head Chef

Oh the Hors d'oeuvres! The sausages! The steaks, and the cheeses! There are two reasons to become a chef - either you're a foodie, or you're on a mission to turn the entire world into foodies. Doesn't matter which category you fall into; what matters is the fact that cooking can turn into one of the most interesting careers in the world for you, if you have the knack of playing with spices and flavors. Think beyond, and you could manage a team of skilled chefs who know the nitty-gritty that the culinary world enfolds within. That said, the career of head chefs revolves around creating innovative recipes, establishing a name for themselves, managing a team of chefs and kitchen workers, and earning handsomely. If you're a bon vivant and see yourself mixing the best of spices in a reputable eatery a few years down the lane, a career as a head chef awaits you with arms wide open. In the following segment, we bounce off the various steps on how to become a head chef, which are composed of the education requirements, specialization, and personal skills, all of which define the absolute process of becoming a head chef in a hotel. So, here goes.

Steps to Becoming a Head Chef

Just so you know, to become a head chef, one must be through the basics of becoming a chef, gain relevant experience in the field of cooking, and then plan on becoming a head chef in a large-scale eatery. Following are the steps involved in becoming a head chef:

Seek Education: While the knack of cooking is a requisite for every culinary aspirant who plans on becoming a chef later in life, one needs to enroll in a culinary school post high school. The United States of America boasts of a number of world-class such as Institute of Culinary Education (NYC), California Culinary Academy (San Francisco), and Texas Culinary Academy (Austin) which can be considered if one wants to kick-start their career as a chef. From basic cooking to baking art, these schools groom their students in the best way possible, and prepare them to cook some of the best dishes in the world. Lastly, they will help you discover your own unique style of cooking, and tell you how to maximize it.

Find Your Niche: A chef may work in a number of settings, and acquire more than one position to demonstrate their culinary art. For example, many aspirants are fond of baking, and hence, they aspire to become a pastry chef. Many, on the other hand, look forward to become a vegetable chef or a pantry chef. Following, there are sous chefs, personal chefs, and garde managers who have their own sets of duties and responsibilities. However, for every type of chef, the entry-level position is that of commises, where cooks work as apprentices under head chefs in large kitchens. Therefore, in order to head your team of kitchen workers, you need to find your niche, and start working in direction of the same. You need to enroll in the right culinary school, and take up courses dedicated to your liking.

Get As Much Experience as You Can: Becoming a head chef requires nothing but experience. You work as a chef in a reputed hotel for a while, learn the basics and the advanced skills, start managing a small team ab initio, and soon, your experience will help you acquire a position higher than other chefs of similar league. Demonstrate rich quality working, develop a unique style of cooking that no other chef of your league has, and so, either you can expect a promotion as a head chef in your own hotel, or you could start applying for the position of a head chef in other eateries and hotels. A switch in the job will present you with a greater remuneration, and better opportunities. All in all, there is no such education requirements in particular for becoming a head chef; a head chef is required to have the leadership skills and an ability to work as a team with the chefs he or she is assigned.

The process of becoming a head chef starts with becoming a lover of food and cooking food. You need to be attentive of the vacancies in organizations that require new chefs everyday, and apply accordingly. A career as a head chef is extremely lucrative for the reason that the annual heading a team of chefs and kitchen workers in the United States of America is no less than $50,000 annually. Hospitality is a field where one can earn handsomely, depending upon the settings they choose to serve in. The duties and responsibilities of head chef focus more on leadership, and therefore, this is one trait that every aspirant needs to develop in themselves before thinking of becoming the master of spices and grubs!

French Culinary School

French cuisine is one of the most sort after cuisines in the world, and there are hundreds of French restaurants all across the country. If you want to replicate that fine culture and rich taste in your own cooking, whether hoping to build a career or simply to improve the food you eat each day, then French culinary school could be just the way to go about it.

There are many cooking schools specializing in French cuisine. One of the top cooking schools that specialize in French food is Le Cordon Bleu, which has become a world leader in training professional chefs since its inception. There are many world famous chefs that have graduated from this institution including American Iron chef Mario Batali.

When choosing the cooking school to sign up to, check whether their tutors are French themselves or have an established background in French cuisine. You should also research the kind of qualification you will be getting at the end of your course. This will depend upon the level of course you sign up to, with schools usually teaching the very basics all the way up to gourmet cooking depending on your needs.

Graduating from a French culinary school will leave you well-placed to get a job in a top French restaurant. You will also benefit from the ability to cook meals that not only feed the family, but are an art form in their own right. And when you learn how to cook delicious French recipes, you will also learn to appreciate the culture behind them and why the food is so important.

Famous and Great Chefs

If chefs from all over the world are considered, it is found that a majority of them are male, and females make up a very small proportion. Some of these have contributed so greatly to cuisine that they have proved themselves to be legendary in this field.

Famous Chefs

The following list includes some of the past as well as contemporary famous and great chefs who have changed the way we think about food.

Fernand Point He is called the "Father of Novelle Cuisine" and Master of la grand cuisine. Point is undoubtedly one of the greatest chefs ever. When he was only 26, he established Restaurant de la Pyramide as an international gastronomic mecca. His culinary mentorship resulted in the generation of world renowned chefs like Francois Bise, Alain Chapel, Louis Outhier, Paul Bocuse, Jean and Pierre Froisgros that continued his work.

James Beard He is respected as the "Father of American Gastronomy". In 1955, he established "The James Beard Cooking School" where he taught cooking to men and women for about 30 years. He wrote several books on cooking which became classics. Some of these are 'The James Beard Cookbook' in 1959, James Beard's 'Treasury of Outdoor Cooking' in 1960, 'Delights and Prejudices' in 1964 and 'James Beard's American Cookery' in 1972. When he died in 1985, he left a legacy of culinary excellence to the coming generations of professional chefs.

Auguste Escoffier The French government exalted Escoffier as a Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur in 1920 and as an Officer in 1928. The German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II told him that he was the Emperor of Germany, but Escoffier was the Emperor of chefs. Escoffier wrote many books out of which 'Le Guide Culinaire' in 1903, 'Le Livre des Menus' in 1912 and 'Ma Cuisine' in 1934 are the most popular. His three most crucial achievements are revolutionizing and modernizing the menu, the art of cooking and the organization of the professional kitchen. He developed the first a la Carte menu.

Julia Child She is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals and a co-founder of the American Institute of Wine and Food. In 1963, the TV cooking show "The French Chef" was a huge success. She has written several books of which 'Mastering the Art of French Cooking' published in 1961 was immensely popular. Child started "L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes", a cooking school, in 1951 along with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle.

Ferran Adria He is considered the father of modern Spanish cuisine. Admirers come from different corners of the world to El Bulli, his restaurant in Roses, Spain. He uses new techniques and gadgets and has a wonderful creativity. In his experiments, he skews ingredients to unexpected textures and serves them at unconventional temperatures.

Todd Gray He is altering the definition of American food. He is trying to prove that American cuisine is not limited to bland, mass market and pre-packaged fodder. One of Washington D.C.'s premier restaurant's has been created by him.

Patricia Yeo She is known for blending exotic Asian, Mediterranean and South western ingredients into unique delicacies. Her Eclectic American restaurant AZ started in the year 2000. She has authored the cookbook 'Cooking from A to Z'.

Thierry Blouet In 2000, he was honored with the rank of Maitre Cuisinier in France. He established the world famous "Cafe des Artistes" restaurant in Puerto Vallarta. The Sauteed scallops Marinated in Orange, Mystique stuffed Chilies with Shrimps and Sea Bass Cafe des Artistes entice people to visit Blouet's restaurant.

John Ash He is an internationally recognized Northern Californian chef and specializes in wine country cuisine. He has authored books like 'American Game Cooking: A Contemporary Guide to preparing Farm-Raised Game Birds and Meats' and 'From the Earth to the Table: John Ash's Wine Country Cuisine'. Cream Almond Fresh Oysters and Chocolate Truffle Trot are some of his delicacies that enjoy international acclaim.

Sanjeev Kapoor He is the top Indian chef. He has written several books out of which some are 'Celebration of Indian Cookery', 'Best of Chinese Cooking', 'Khana Khazana' and 'Low Calorie Vegetarian Cookbook'. He has anchored the TV show "Khana Khazana".

Samuel Arnold He is famous for blending Mexican, Indian and frontier American tastes. The dishes he prepares have exotic titles like Chicken Livers Volkswagen, Rocky Mountain Oysters, Moose Nose, Bowl of the Wife of Kit Carson, etc. He is known for mixing culture, taste and history in the recipes.

Lucas Ndlovu The International Chaine de Rotisseurs has honored him as one of the 24 South African chefs. He is known to share his dishes with poor children also. Avocado with ginger, honey and celery, paper-thin ostrich carpaccio, grilled baby kingklip rolled in macadamia nuts are some of his famous dishes.

Ming Tsai He is a renowned Chinese chef in Boston. The East-West fusion restaurant Blue Ginger belongs to him. He is the anchor of the cooking show East Meets West. Chipotle sweet potato soup, Spicy black bean mussels and Salad are some of his popular dishes.

Antonio Carluccio He opened the first Italian food shop in Covent Garden in 1991. In the process, he brought the supreme quality Italian food to London. "Cavatelli with Mussels - Cavatelli con le Cozze" is the dish he is admired for. He is the author of 'Southern Italian Feast'.

Culinary School Admission Information

Stepping into the culinary society is not that easy as it appears. In fact, when it comes to being counted among the brightest chefs the task becomes pretty tough. Presence of several culinary programs provided by different culinary schools can help in your way. It generates a spark of ingenuity, driving towards success by equipping you with real skills to own a restaurant.

If we look at the present scenario, there is a long list of options starting from international culinary schools to simply regional culinary schools in the United States. It doesn't matter which school you choose, as an aspiring chef you must know and start the school's admission process at the right time by knowing the right method. Every culinary school may differ in their course or the curriculum of a course but as a whole all of them follow some basic admission formalities. You may be asked to follow some of the instructions while applying for an admission into a culinary school. An application form is the first document that makes your first impression on the admission committee. So, it would be wise to follow the given instructions sincerely. Things you might require for admission are:

Transcripts- Required credentials are asked to submit depending on the course you have chosen. For an example two-year and four-year culinary programs, you will need to give in your high school certificates. Besides this, either a high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement for many culinary schools. Grads or score obtained in your academic career can also play a vital role in getting an admission in some of the best culinary schools.

References - References or letters in the written form are another essential requirement of the application. These references are required to be given by any non family members such as professors, employers or any other individual who can assure applicant's dependability, reliability, and possibility of successful completion of the program.

Essay- An application must include essays or written statements with a given word limit regarding an explanation of the reason of choosing a culinary career. This is where your experience if any might help in expressing your reasons.

While these requirements are necessary to fulfill at the same time you need to have a positive attitude to complete the program successfully. Until you have skills, determination and luck no one can stop you becoming a world class chef or establish a career in a culinary field. However, choosing a right culinary college and following guidelines are equally necessary.

Culinary School 101 Chef Knives

Culinary school teaches you the value of high quality ingredients, cooking techniques, and cooking utensils. Perhaps the most important of these utensils are the chef knives. There are several kinds of knives and all with a special purpose in the culinary arts world. Here is a quick guide to what is considered the ultimate chef's knife kit; or the best ones to own.

Chef's knife - Also known as the French knife, it is the most versatile knife in a chef's or culinary student's collection. Used for many mincing, chopping and slicing chores, it can be anywhere from eight to 12 inches in length.

Paring knife - Mainly used for trimming and paring fruits and vegetables, it is the smallest knife in the collection with a two- to four-inch blade.

Tourne knife - You will definitely hear the term tourne cut in culinary school. It refers to cutting veggies into an oblong shape for appearance. The tool of this cutting chore is, obviously, the tourne knife. It is about the same size as the paring knife with a curved blade.

Utility knife - This knife is a little smaller that the chef's knife at about five to eight inches in length. It is used only for light cutting chores.

Cleaver - A culinary student will have the most fun with knife work while chopping with a cleaver, which is heavy enough to sever bones. It is rectangular in shape and can vary in length.

Boning knife - Separating uncooked meat from the bone is a basic culinary school skill that cannot be completed without a boning knife. It is thinner and a few inches shorter than a chef's knife.

Slicer - With its long, flexible blade, this knife is used for making presentation-worthy slices of cooked meat.

Filleting knife - Culinary students will use this knife to fillet raw fish. It looks a lot like a boning knife but is thinner since fish is a lot more delicate than other meats.

Culinary Arts Schools That Are Perfect For You

There are a multitude of culinary arts schools out there and more are cropping up every day. It can be overwhelming trying to evaluate these schools and make an informed choice about which one to attend. The following is a list of questions to consider and help you find the right culinary arts schools for you.

What do you want to do with your culinary education?

Figuring out what career you want to pursue if the first step in figuring out which school might be right for you. For instance if you want to be a pastry chef who makes desserts, then a culinary arts baking school may be right for you. You can either choose a culinary school with a baking program or there are schools that specialize in pastry only.

What features do you need a school to provide you with?

Things you may want to look for in a school include locality, whether or not the school offers a degree (or just a certification), how long the programs are, the schools accreditation status, the acceptance of financial and and tuition expenses. You may want to make a list of criteria to evaluate a school based upon. Doing this will help you when you are comparing culinary schools side by side.

You should be able to compile a list of what are the top culinary arts schools for you; based on your criteria. Once you have narrowed down your list of schools; then you can begin to contact each school for even more information. You can obtain this information either online or by calling the schools and requesting admissions information.

After you have received the information you can check what tuition expenses are, what classes and programs are available and application requirements. Based on the information; you should be able to eliminate those schools that don't meet the criteria on your list.

Finally you will be left with a list of top culinary arts schools that would be a perfect match for you. A few schools that have impressive reputations for quality culinary education are Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Schools and Culinary Arts Institutes. Both of these schools have campuses nationwide.

You are now ready to begin the admissions process. You will need to obtain applications and apply to the schools you have chosen. It is recommended you apply to at least two schools to help ensure you are admitted to one.You will also want to fill out and apply for any financial aid you might need. You can fill out a FAFSA online to qualify for federal and state government tuition assistance. The school you are applying to may have scholarships available as well. Check with the financial aid office for further information.

Culinary arts schools offer a multitude of career paths for getting started in the field. The culinary arts are a rapidly growing field with promising employment outlooks. Choosing the school to get your education at is the first step in what is hopefully a lifelong rewarding career for you.

Choose the Right Culinary School and Fulfill Your Culinary Dreams

If you have dreamed of becoming a chef and are finally ready to take the step towards achieving this goal, you probably have thought about culinary schools. How do you know which school is right for you? Do you close your eyes and pick one, hoping your finger contains a touch of luck? Surely there is a better way to choose a culinary school.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Culinary School

1.Reputation.

When selecting a culinary school to attend, the first thing you need to check is its reputation in the culinary world. It need not be the No. 1 cooking school but it should be known for its standing and ability to produce quality cooks and chefs.

2.Awards or Citations.

Check if the culinary school has any awards or citations granted by culinary award-giving bodies. This way, you're assured that the school has standards high enough that others in the industry are not only noticing it, but rewarding it.

3.Membership in Culinary Organizations.

Check if the culinary school is an active member of any culinary organization. This way, you're assured that the school is on top of whatever is the latest trend on the cooking industry.

Although food trends are pretty much like fashion (i.e., there's always something going out of style and something making a comeback), there are still new things that are introduced now and then. An example is the current trend to cook meat using 'water treatments', where the meat is flavored and sealed in a vacuum pack and the whole pack placed in water at a specific temperature. It is trends like these that the culinary schools should be on top of.

4.Curriculum.

What type of cook do you wish to be? For instance, do you want to excel in a specific country's cooking that may not necessarily the country where you come from? Do you want to be more of a pastry connoisseur? Whatever you want to 'major' in, ensure that the culinary school has a good curriculum for it.

5.Mode of Teaching.

Different people learn in different ways. Further, depending on where you are in your life right now, time or schedule of classes may be an issue with you. As such, check the mode of teaching applied by the school and schedules of classes.

6.Proximity.

A school may have a good rep but is it really a viable option for you? If distance is an issue, then you may have to rule out culinary schools out of your city OR you can ask if there are local accredited schools.

7.Check out reviews.

Nowadays, there are some sites that offer a sort of grading or review system for schools. See, if the culinary school you want to attend is listed on the site and see what others have to say. Don't depend solely on the reviews of other people, but it can be a great starting point in your search for your culinary school.

California Culinary Schools

When people think of California, famous people and exotic beaches come to mind. California isn't just as famous as its Hollywood stars, but it also is known for some of the finest culinary schools in the country. As we all know, California is one of the world most well known cities, and a huge tourist attraction, so you can expect to find great food here. With great food, comes great culinary schools.

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institute of California, located in Los Angeles, is one of the most well known culinary schools in California, if not in the USA. The school offers a variety of programs and for this reason has become quite famous. Their school focuses primarily on proper technique, as well as how to apply seasonal ingredients while cooking. They offer full time programs, as well as part time programs for those who are looking for a part time hobby. The training received here will prepare you for becoming a chef, or cooking like a pro if you're just in it for passion!

California Culinary Academy in San Francisco is one of the many branches of the Le Cordon Bleu culinary program. Whether you are looking to improve your cooking skills for personal use, or you are working to becoming a professional chef, this Culinary School is designed to take your cooking skill to the next level. There will be hands-on approach to learning all there is to cooking in the real kitchen environment. Perfect for beginners.

Another well known institution to consider is the California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. It is affiliated to the famous Le Cordon Bleu culinary program. In Pasadena, you will receive the proper education needed to advance in the culinary field. Attending Pasadena will open many doors for you once you complete the program. Aside from this, the school is located close to several wine regions, and is also very close to a cuisine capital, Hollywood.

For those who are looking at entering a California Culinary School, these three should be considered very closely. As shown above, they are three schools that will prepare you with cooking skills that you can use for whatever purpose you are entering the schools. Whether it is to become a chef, to run a catering business or to open your own restaurant, enrolling in one of California culinary schools pave the way to a successful career in culinary arts.

Arts Culinary School A Booming Career

Arts Culinary School - A Booming Career

Arts culinary school is a booming career option in recent times. Any individual who enjoys food and cooking can surely benefit by choosing this as a career. Such school trains the students to become professionals in this field. After completion of the course, many students successfully set up their own culinary ventures. Most people think that making food is an extremely easy task and that these schools only teach to create dishes. But today, many culinary schools have dynamic programs in their course structure which not only includes preparing various cuisines, but also offer safety and hygienic business information. So, culinary is a serious profession which includes combination of science and art as well.

A well trained and skilled chef can make food become more than a biological necessity. It's an art form meant to be savored. You can't taste a painting or smell music - but good food is meant to be consumed and appreciated on many different levels.

Choosing The Right Program:

Students need to decide on programs that they are interested in making the career. If students desire to become soup chefs then, need to ensure that the school they choose has reputation in that course. If individuals want to start their catering venture, then they have to locate the school that specializes in that course itself. After enrolling, individuals need to attend the school regularly. It enables them to learn the course more efficiently and systematically.

Ask as many questions to instructor, observe their tactics and try to imbibe the qualities for improvement. The feedback given by the teachers is always important, using which individuals excel not only in their exams but also in the future professions.

Maintain a good rapport with teachers and friends, because there references might prove useful after completion of courses. Some schools provide extra tutorial or workshops to students on weekdays, which are not included in the syllabus. Notable people from culinary fields are invited to give the lectures. By attending such classes, an individual get the idea about the actual culinary world. Hence, gain maximum benefits from the facilities provided at the school. Some schools also take study trips to different locations to understand the food habits of various cultures.

Attending a culinary arts program isn't the only way into the culinary industry. However, formal training can provide you with an extensive knowledge of proper techniques, high-end ingredients and the ins and outs of the business. Attend into a culinary arts program with the determination to learn as much as you can, and you'll come away with a valuable education that can help you reach your career goals.

Summary:

To become a successful in every field, an individual has to put in efforts and same is in case of culinary art. Culinary schools of recent times provide excellent training and facilities, but it totally depends upon the students how much knowledge they acquire from it. While pursuing the culinary program, do the best as these qualities remains for lifetime and this is what required by employers too. Arts culinary schools thus, help in fulfilling the dreams of students of becoming eminent chefs.

Alyssa Milano Biography

Alyssa Milano - Biography

Beautiful, charming and sexy Alyssa Milano was born on 19 December of 1972 to an Italian-American couple, mother Lin, a fashion designer and father Tom, a film music editor. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Alyssa was brought up in Staten Island. She attended The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, CA.

The kick-start to Alyssa's career was just like a dream came true for anyone who wants to be on golden screen. Alyssa got an opportunity to show her talent and skills in an open audition in 1980. It was her baby-sitter who took her for an open audition of national tour of Musical Annie. Alyssa beat more than some hundreds of participants and secured her place in the tour of Annie when she was of age around seven.

During her tour, Alyssa had learned much and earned her bit of applauses from audiences, she was cherished for her work and talent. Soon she was signed for few TV Commercials and Off-Broadway productions. Alyssa was moving slowly towards a start of her career as an actress in Television and movie productions. Alyssa came face-to-face with the destiny's decision to give her a chance at the age of 10. A role in new sitcom "Who's The Boss?" was her careers' first role. She played Samantha Micelli in "Who's The Boss?", which was a big hit. Her family had to make a decision to move to Hollywood because of the problem Alyssa was facing regarding her typical Brooklyn accent. Alyssa then had started getting interesting offers for roles in various television, film and musical productions. She was offered a part of Adele in the musical version of Jayne Eyre. Her part in John O'Keefe's All Night Long at Manhattan's Second Stage Theater was more than spectacular.

Alyssa soon was offered with a role in a feature film, "Old Enough" was her debut movie in 1983. As a reward for her talent in acting, Alyssa was featured alongside some of the famous personalities of 80's. She acted in an action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, "Commando", and she also appeared in some Teen-TV-Movies like "Crash Course", "Dance Till Dawn" are few to be named. Alyssa was not away from celebrity-hood and soon started winning hearts of audiences.

Just like any other Hollywood celebrity, Alyssa also left behind her image of a young, innocent teen girl and in 1992, she gave a nude pose for "Bikini Magazine" and flamed cover pages of many other magazines. People were poised by her seductive appearance when Alyssa revealed her beautiful and sexy figure in her movies "Embrace of Vampire", "Poison Ivy-II", "Deadly Sins", "Last Year's Fear" and "The Outer Limits". Alyssa also caused stir when she played a role in an ad-campaign which were more than dare devil for the kind of products and were turned down by TV authority and teen magazines. Today, with more than 30 movies and roles in more than 30 television productions, Alyssa is popular because of her beauty and sexy figure.

Alyssa's love life was quite interesting, but her relations lived for very short period. Alyssa was engaged to Scott Wolf (Double Dragon) in 1993, but their engagement was broken off. Alyssa met her husband singer Cinjun August Tate in 1999 and they got married after a few dates. Alyssa and Tate were separated soon within a year after their marriage.

Alyssa loves to listen to music, cooking, and reading occasionally, her favorite sport is hockey, knows piano and flute. Along with these all, she loves tattooing herself; she has five tattoos on her body which are: a sacred heart, a fairy kneeling on grass, rosary beads, an angel, an Orobous, an "Om" (Hindu Sacred Word), and a garland of flowers.

Alyssa has many achievements on her name which are: she was voted #4 in The Sexiest Women list by FHM in 2001 and at the same position in 2003, her 5 albums released in Japan which were platinum hits, her picture was used to create a lead character in an Ariel for "The Little Mermaid", appearance in many hit videos, her TV commercial for 1-800-COLLECT girl is one of the most memorable part of her career etc.

A Guide to Culinary Scholarships

Investing in your future in a culinary school can be quite expensive. You may require assistance in paying the tuition. This can be done through the many culinary scholarships that are available. Such scholarships are offered by a number of organizations that include professional organizations, businesses and corporations, community groups, charitable foundations, and schools offering culinary courses, among others.

Culinary scholarships are granted to students who take up studies in a number of culinary fields, such as food service, baking, pastry, restaurant management, as well as hospitality.

Culinary Arts

Food industry is booming even in these times of economic downturn. More and more restaurants are coming up, and with them there are more job openings in the culinary field. Hotels and restaurants prefer people qualified in culinary arts. America has more than 3 million workers in the culinary field and more than 800,000 of them are chefs in restaurants all across the country.

The field is opening up with more and more people joining culinary courses.

Looking For Scholarships

Most culinary schools across the nation offer culinary scholarships. If you wish to avail of one, you need to apply early for it. There are certain requirements you will need to meet, and the earlier you get into doing so, the better your chances to obtain one.

Have your letters of recommendation ready well before time. Make sure that your recommendations are from reliable sources. Culinary schools may require a personal statement enumerating your background and discussing your achievements and goals; along with your scholarship application. Give a thought to what you need to put in and write your statement clearly and coherently.

Select the school with care. Many schools in states that attract tourists, such as Hawaii, Florida, New York, and California, for instance, have programs that offer culinary scholarships. These are merit based as well as need-based scholarships. See what you qualify for and get yourself well positioned to be selected.

A Look At Some Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded to high school and college students, as well as professional chefs who wish to further their educational qualifications.

The American Culinary Federation (ACF) through its American Academy of Chefs (AAC) offers a number of scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in culinary arts. The scholarship awarded can be as much as $1000 each year. The James Beard Foundation offers a number of scholarships to students of culinary arts. These are cash scholarships that include tuition waivers. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) offers Associate Degree programs in Culinary Arts as well as in Baking and Pastry. The Institute offers financial aid in the form of scholarships to its students, as well as grants and loans.

Selection is done by impartial scholarship committees. You need to prove that you are above the rest and deserve the culinary scholarships on offer. Your chances improve if you can show that you have participated in extracurricular activities and group activities that promote communication skills, a sense of commitment and leadership.