some advice from chefs pls?

Question

i love to cook, i would say it's my passion. i am constantly searching for authentic and different things to make. i am always trying to improve on what i cook( and my skills) to make it authentic and just right ( for my liking) when i am cooking for other people i become a bit of a perfectionist and even though others may say it's good sometimes if it doesn't turn out how i envisioned it i just cant be happy with it. all my friends and family members tell me im a great cook, but i it's so easy for people to just say that and be nice to my face! i think i am decent but lots of people think they are good at something but they really aren't

my question is, should i go to college and take the culinary arts course? would i benefit from it? i don't know what i would be getting into, is it different taking it as opposed to what people think? any advice from anyone who has taken culinary arts or professional chefs!

i live in Canada so a one year program isn't ridiculously expensive here!

also my long term goals are to perhaps start a catering business.

Answer 1

Depends what it costs. If it's one of those mega-buck programs and you don't intend to be a professional chef then the answer is no. If it's a good community college program like the one at College of du Page in Glen Ellen IL or the one at The Community College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus located in N.Las Vegas NV. The answer is yes.
If there's a good community college in your area then go for it.
I personally would try to take and pass the Food Service Sanitation class in summer school .
If you start fall classes w/o that baseline knowledge you will be sort of in the weeds from Day 1
Depending upon what your schedule is like
In the Fall take some version of Quantity Food Prep 101 and Baking 101-quick breads, yeast breads, croissants, danishes....and the all important How to do bakers percentages.
You will be required to own your own knives , thermometers ,
Talk the instuctor about what's required before you go out and spend a lot of money on stuff. Often culinary schools will get breaks on knife sets from manufacturers and pass on those savings to their students. Schools also have relationships w/ the local restaurant suppply stores that will help you save money.
You will be required to own your own uniforms ; chefs jackets , pants , closed toed shoes w/ skid proof soles, aprons ,side towels and approriate head wear.
You should also keep a clean jacket or two in your locker or car to change into if yours gets too dirty.
There is a quantitative difference between home cooking and professional cooking . The difference is so great that I am going to seriously suggest that you forget everything you know about food -except for the fact that you love it- before walking into class.
Good luck

Answer 2

My ex was a chef at a very upscale restaurant, and his training was all hands-on, working his way up to that position from experience on other cooking jobs, at different restaurants. I think that if you truly have a passion and a knack for it, that culinary school may not really be necessary. Now days there are so many specialized courses you can take, without the time and money commitment that a culinary degree would entail.
I know a caterer and also the owner of an upscale bistro, and neither have a degree in culinary arts.
I love to cook - food inspires me - I love to create with, play with flavors, and am always trying new things. I can totally understand your passion for food! I also believe that you must be somewhat talented, or someone close to you would have broken the news to you by now! lol!
It would be great experience, of course, to work with a catering business, if you haven't or aren't already...and taking a business course would be really helpful with starting your own. But, again, there are business courses that most local colleges offer, just like specialized food courses, that you can take in a series of 10-12 classes, at night.
Follow your dreams and your passions...you only live once...make it delicious!
Best wishes and Good Luck!

Answer 3

Before I would take the plunge and go to culinary college I would find out if you like the real food world( in the kitchen). you will be one of the lowest on the pecking order whether you go to culinary college or not. You will be a line cook if you get to start out cooking. The Chef job is a long and hard job. You do have to love it to stay at it. 40 + years and most as an Exec. Chef I can say that I have a passion for it. If you go to a good Culinary College you will Spend $25,000- $45,000 for 2 years of school. See if you like the trade before you spend the big bucks. 50-60 hour weeks are normal hours.

Answer 4

Unless you have money and time to burn, a full culinary arts degree would only make sense if you were going to run (cook in) a restaurant or dining room.

That said, there are lots of one-week, two-day, month-long, whatever courses that are fun to take and you can learn A LOT. You might want to send away for videotapes from CIA (Culinary Institute of America, ciachef.edu, if I really correctly) on basics - knife skills, basic heating, and there are fun courses like a week in Italy where you go to town every morning, learn to pick the fresh produce, take it back, and make something of it. There are lots of mini course, and for the money spent in a culinary arts degree you could get lots of other experience and have a ball doing it.

Note: It's been many years since I've worked the line in a restaurant, but it does teach you to time your food to get it all out and hot and ready at the same time. I don't know if you can get that from short courses - that's the only difference.

Enjoy!

Answer 5

My former brother in law took culinary arts. He got burned out and dropped out, but still got good cooking jobs. My husband graduated in culinary arts, only worked a couple cooking jobs and went into another line of work. Same thing, burn out.

I'm not a Chef, but I was the head cook at my own restaurant with no training. But your story sounds a lot like mine. I may be retired, but I got burned out from the business aspect and couldn't concentrate on cooking. I guess I'm just saying you can be successful without the formal training.

Answer 6

I went to culinary arts school. You learn the basics first (knife cuts, how to make stock, etc) and then learn about all the areas in the kitchen (baking, making cold plates and sausages, etc). I think it is extremely overpriced. You could learn a lot by working in a kitchen at a restaurant and work your way up. I'd recommend joining a local cooking group or taking classes at a community college first.

Answer 7

Yes girl. If it's your passion. Then yes. I'm only 13 and I love to cook. I want to go to college for it. I think you should go. Just because people say it's good. Then just believe in yourself. You should know it's good. Always taste your food. And say I know it's good.

Answer 8

I can try. I used to own a restaurant. Depends on what kind of advice you need.