Students who study in cookery courses receive, perhaps, the most practical-oriented education - it is impossible to imagine mastering culinary art without constant practical exercises and experiments. Regardless of your priority area of future activity - chef, sommelier, restaurant critic, author of cookbooks - in the best schools of USA and Switzerland you will find a huge number of practical problems and theoretical knowledge.
Why the United States and Switzerland? Yes, there are culinary schools all over the world - but it is in these countries that the culture of high-quality, impeccable service is practically cultivated and successfully combined with the progressive culinary views of the best specialists. Switzerland and the USA, in addition, are multicultural countries - here culinary masters boldly experiment and master the best dishes and professional tricks of different countries.
What specialties and professions can I get in the School of Culinary Arts?
Among the students of culinary schools, there are several popular destinations:
- Bakery and confectionery
- Hotel management
- General culinary
- Restaurant management
- Catering
- Culinary management.
Each sphere has its own peculiarities and subtleties, its variants of building a career. For example, General cooking includes the work of a chef (don't forget to develop organizational skills!), and assisting and working as a sous chef. Restaurant management can appear in the form of filling out a wine list. A diploma in the specialty “Baking and confectionery” can grow into your own bakery.
The structure of education in the field of cooking abroad
In total, students enrolled in the "delicious" directions, waiting for 300-400 theoretical classes in classrooms and as many as 200- 300 hours of practical work and internships. In general, students abroad are offered the following curriculum options:
- Certificate courses or diploma programs (from 1 month to 2 years)
- Academic degree (9 months to 2 years)
- Bachelor's degree (average 4 years)
- Master (average 2 years).
Almost all foreign schools oblige their students to undergo pre-diploma practice: working in the restaurant kitchen, assisting the chief sommelier or chef, managing the restaurant, assisting in management, working with guests, etc. Many of the best hospitality schools (especially in Switzerland) have under their care entire hotels and restaurants that are constantly managed by students and provide the widest opportunities for a variety of practice and internships.
TOP-7 culinary schools in Switzerland and the USA
- Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago
The famous "blue ribbon" academy ("Le cordon bleu") is a world-recognized quality standard: the main school of this corporation was founded in Paris in 1895 and is today considered the best profile institution on the planet. This is the largest in the world institute of hotel and restaurant business: Le Cordon Bleu was graduated by famous restaurateurs and legendary chefs, respected critics and culinary authors.
In Chicago, the institute offers mainly certification courses, junior academic degrees and short courses, ideally suited for professional development. All programs are tested and approved by the head school in Paris, meet the highest standards of quality Le Cordon Bleu. The specialization can be very different: the cuisine of Italy and the Mediterranean, the decoration of cakes, the organization of picnics and catering, etc.
- Kendall College
This college was named the best by none other than the legendary Michelin Guide restaurant guide. In Kendall College in addition to culinary directions (baccalaureate and junior degree, which can be obtained in 2 years) are offered and other occupations of the hospitality industry - for example, hotel management or business management.
- International Culinary Institute Switzerland (ICI)
Mostly, a well-known Swiss school is enrolled to receive a bachelor's degree - this will be required 3 years. On a mandatory basis, students undergo two more six-month internships (available in Switzerland, available in other European countries), which is well paid for - on average students receive 2,200 ₣ per month. In addition to the basic educational program and diploma, you can get a prestigious certificate in the field of confectionery, cooking and working with chocolate.
- Les Roches International School of Management
Perhaps the most elite and prestigious profile school in Switzerland has been cooperating with Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Here, students can receive both classical culinary education and improve as managers: the Bachelor's Business Administration (International Hospitality Management, Culinary Business Management). This is an ideal option for those students who want to take management positions in the best restaurants in the world, open their own successful institution (or field service business, etc.), master event management, develop a menu and a sheet of combining dishes and wines.
- Business and Hotel Management School (BHMS)
The legendary Swiss school of hotel and restaurant business that produces the world's best specialists in tourism and hospitality. Like the rest of the Swiss higher schools, offers students a useful and long-term internship: on a three-year undergraduate program, students spend almost a year (2 practices for 6 months) in the best hotels and restaurants in the country and Europe (paid internship). The basic programs for culinary skills are bachelor's degree, one-year degree course, second higher education and advanced education (1 year).
- Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAA)
The culinary school is part of the prestigious organization Swiss Education Group, which automatically makes it one of the most elite schools in Switzerland and in the world. It has 2 equivalent campuses - in Lucerne and Le Bouvre. Internships are held in luxury hotels in Switzerland and Europe: The Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Pan Pacific, Sandals, Rosewood) and others. Among the popular programs are bachelor's and master's degrees, a certification course (not only cookery programs but also business management courses are available).
- La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana (ALMA)
The leading Italian culinary school, equally aimed at the upbringing of chefs and skilled sommeliers. Internships are mandatory: students at the beginning of the course spend at least 2 months in special educational kitchens but graduates will have a 5-month internship in the best restaurants and hotels in Italy. Among the educational courses the most popular are undergraduate and graduate courses (lasting 7 months).
