The United States of America is full of culinary art schools as the food industry is becoming one of the most preferred professions, Students from all over
the world come to America to study, learn culinary skills from the top chefs and earn prestigious culinary degrees. These degrees help them to be placed in some of the world’s best 5-star hotels and restaurants. However, finding the best culinary art schools in America can be a difficult choice, as there are plenty of high quality schools to choose from. Based on multiple sources and reviews of the major culinary programs available, we provide you with information on 5 of America’s top culinary art schools.
Texas Culinary Academy, Austin, TX
The Texas Culinary Academy, only established in 1995, has moved to the top of the list for culinary schools in the United States. TCA has cutting edge, top of the line, modern facilities sporting 73 thousand square feet of classrooms, kitchens, and even a working restaurant offering it’s students real world experience – on site. A newly built demonstration area was modeled after Le Cordon Bleu in London and Paris (This is the only Cordon Bleu affiliated cooking school in Texas.). Students here learn everything from foundational cooking and pastry skills to real world business skills. TCA offers financial aid and offers a comprehensive culinary education.
Website- http://www.tca.edu/
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) – Hyde Park, NY
CIA’s program emphasizes the hands-on, real world experience. A degree from CIA offers a minimum of 1,300 hours in the kitchen learning on the floor. CIA’s curriculum includes an internship in a top restaurant as part of your educational experience. They believe “in-kitchen experience” teaches the most useful and transferable skills to their highly qualified graduates. 300 companies recruit on campus each year, and CIA remains one of the foremost culinary schools in America. Culinary Institute of America offers degrees in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, and both Bachelor’s and Associate’s Degree programs.
California Culinary Academy – San Francisco, CA
CCA offers an exceptional education in the culinary arts including, baking and pastry arts, and hospitality and restaurant management. They promote hands-on cooking classes and informative lecture courses. CCA offers numerous degree programs where courses include culinary techniques, business management skills (accounting, finance and marketing), wine and beverage management and hospitality. CCA offers not only a quality curriculum, but also a low student-to-teacher ratio. Additionally they have numerous resources including a world-class library and exceptional kitchen facilities.
Website – http://www.ciachef.edu/
The Institute of Culinary Education – New York City, NY
The Institute of Culinary Education offers over 35 years of outstanding culinary instruction to today’s top chefs. Perhaps one of the most difficult schools to qualify for, applicants must have at least two years college or university credits or two years of relative culinary experience. This school attracts students from around the world, winning the International Association of Culinary Professionals’ vocational culinary school of the year award in 2002 and 2003, as well as the 2008 IACP Award of Excellence for Best Vocational Cooking School. ICE students and alumni are consistently nominated for or win top industry awards, such as James Beard Awards, Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in America, and Pastry Art & Design’s Ten Best Pastry Chefs.
Website – http://www.iceculinary.com/
Johnson & Wales University – Providence, RI, Miami, FL, Charlotte, NC & Denver, CO
The first culinary school in North America to provide a bachelors of Science degree in the subject in 1993, Johnson & Wales is considered one of the top culinary colleges in the country, if not the world. Providing both associates and bachelors degrees, subjects include culinary arts, baking and pastry, nutrition, marketing and food services. Promoting real-life experiences, and critical thinking skills, Johnson & Wales University have become the preeminent school when it comes to hands-on training and practical experience. Their demanding, fast-paced curriculum molds some of the most desirable new culinary graduates every year.
These are five of the most well known culinary schools in the United States. They offer lecture, kitchen classroom laboratories, business applications, and critical thinking skills to some of the best and brightest young culinary minds the US has to offer each year. If you’re trying to choose the right school for you, and you have the creativity, drive, and love of culinary arts; any one of these five schools is an excellent choice to set you on your way towards a stellar culinary career.
Website – http://www.jwu.edu/