Find Your Favorite Flavor for Culinary Education

One of the exciting things about culinary arts is the variety of styles and tastes in the field. From around the world comes a cultural culinary cornucopia. A number of schools cater to those looking for specific food preparation styles. Five of the most popular food preparation choices are: French, Italian, Thai, Vegetarian, and Vegan. Here are schools that cater to those tastes.

French Culinary Schools

French cuisine sets the standard for much of western cooking. In the French tradition, a well-prepared meal must meet three criteria: appearance, quality, and flavor. Food first pleases the eye; then the palate. Creating such a meal is an art form. Although most culinary schools in America have a base of French tradition, a few specialize in French cooking. The following schools offer specific instruction in French cuisine.

L’academie Cuisine offers diplomas in culinary arts and pastry arts. The programs are one-year long and include an externship. The school is ACCET accredited. For more information go to: lacademie.com or call 301-670-8670.

Keiser University offers associate degrees in the disciplines of culinary arts, and bakery and pastry. The school has three campus locations, Melbourne, Sarasota, and Tallahassee Florida. The school is CCSAC accredited. For more information go to: keiseruniversity.edu or call 321-255-2255 for the Melbourne campus or 866-534-7382 for the Sarasota campus, or 877-243-3123 for the Tallahassee campus.

L’Ecole Culinaire with campus locations in St. Louis, Missouri, and Cordova, Tennessee, offers a culinary essentials diploma, and two associates degrees, one in culinary arts and one in culinary management. The online contact is: lecole.edu. With a phone contact of 888-214-1352 for both locations.

Chez Boucher Cooking School in Hampton, New Hampshire, offers day and evening short courses in pastry arts and culinary arts. A certificate of completion is granted after each course. For more information go to: chezboucher.com or call 603-926-2202.

The Culinary Institute of LeNorte, located in Houston, Texas, offers diploma courses and associate’s degree courses in culinary arts & bakery and pastry. The school is ACCST & ACP accredited. For more information go to: culinaryinstitute.edu or call 888-536-6873.

The French Culinary Institute at the International Culinary Center, in New York city, offers French-based courses in culinary arts, pastry arts, & international bread baking. The culinary arts and pastry arts courses are offered in day classes, six-months long, or night classes which take nine months to complete. The bread baking course is eight weeks long. The school is ACCSC accredited. For more information go to internationalculinarycenter.com or call 888-324-2433.

Le Cordon Bleu, a school founded in France, offers French cuisine course work on each of 17 campus locations. The basic online address is chefs.edu from which each campus can be accessed.

The US based campus locations for Le Cordon Bleu are not accepting new students, but the campus locations and courses they offered at each are as follows:

• Atlanta, Georgia offers both certificate courses and associate’s degrees in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. This campus is ACCSC accredited. The phone is: 588-549-8222.
• Austin, Texas offers both certificate and associate’s degree courses in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The campus is ACICS accredited and can be reached at 888-559-7222.
• Boston, Massachusetts campus offers a certificate course and an associate’s degree course in culinary arts. The campus is accredited by ACCSCT and can be reached at 888-394-6222.
• Chicago, Illinois campus offers a certificate course in culinary arts and associate’s degrees in both culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The campus is accredited by HLC. The phone number is: 888-295-7222.
• Dallas, Texas offers an associate’s degree in culinary arts and is ACICS accredited. The phone contact is: 888-495-5222.
• Las Vegas, Nevada campus offers an associate’s degree in culinary arts. The campus is accredited by ACCSCT. The phone contact is: 888-551-8222.
• Los Angeles, California campus offers an associate’s degree in culinary arts. The campus is ACICS accredited. The phone number is: 866-230-9450.
• Minneapolis, Minnesota campus offers both certificate courses and associate’s degree courses in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The campus is ACCSC accredited. The phone contact is: 888-348-5222.
• Miami, Florida campus offers diploma courses and associate’s degree programs in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. the courses are ACICS accredited. The phone contact is: 888-914-1222.
• Orlando, Florida campus offers both diploma courses and associate’s degree programs in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are accredited by ACICS. The phone contact is: 888-314-8222.
• Portland, Oregon campus offers both diploma granting courses and associate’s degree courses in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACCSC accredited. The phone contact is: 888-891-6222.
• Pittsburg, Pennsylvania campus offers both diploma producing courses and associate’s degree course work in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACCSC accredited. The phone contact is: 888-314-8222.
• Sacramento, California campus offers both certificate programs and associate’s degree programs in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are accredited by ACICS. The phone contact is: 888-807-8222.
• San Francisco, California campus offeres both certificate programs and associate’s degree programs in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACICS accredited. The phone contact is: 888-897-3222.
• Scottsdale, Arizona campus offers a bachelor’s degree in culinary management and certificate programs and associate’s degrees in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACCSC accredited. The phone contact is: 888-557-4222.
• Seattle, Washington campus offers both certificate programs and associate’s degree programs in culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACICS accredited. The phone contact is: 866-909-7222.
• St. Louis, Missouri campus offers certificate programs in both culinary arts & patisserie and bakery. The courses are ACICS accredited. The phone contact is: 866-951-7222.

Ferrandi is a school in Paris, France that offers nine-month course work in French cuisine & pastry and bread making The school immerses students in French culture and cuisine. For more information, go to: ferrandi-paris.fr/en/ or call international number: 33 1 49 54 28 00.

Le Cordon Bleu, Paris. The home of the Le Cordon Bleu culinary education system is this school in Paris, France. The school offers a certificate for the pastry course and a nine-month diploma granting course in baking and pastry. For more information go to cordonbleu.edu/paris/accueil/fr.

Italian Culinary Schools

Italian cuisine comes to us with more than 2000 years of culinary development and has had a profound influence on western food preparation. Catherine de Medici took the Italian traditions with her to the French court in 1534 and changed everything. Most culinary schools offer some Italian dish preparation but not a full course in that discipline. A few schools in the United States cater to students with interest in all things Italian. Several have, as part of the curriculum, an Italian experience. One can also travel to the source. Italy has several excellent schools to choose from.

The Italian Culinary Academy at the International Culinary Center  is located in New York City and offers a course called, Italian cultural experience This course is 1053 hours of course work and includes an Italian experience. The course is ACCSC accredited. For more information go to: internationalculinarycenter.com or call 221-219-8890.

The International Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine is also located in New York City. The course offerings include a single session course and a three-day immersion course. The school is found at: internationalcookingschool.com and 212-779-1921.

Lincoln Culinary Institute is located in Hartford, Connecticut, and offers three diploma courses: advanced culinary arts program, 41.9 credit hours; professional pastry and bakery program, 41.9 credit hours & advanced Italian culinary arts program, 58.7 credit hours. You can find the school at lincolntech.edu or call 800-762-4337.

George Brown College of Toronto, Ontario, Canada offers a three semester-long diploma course for chefs who want to add to their professional knowledge culinary arts, Italian postgraduate program. Their website is georgebrown.ca & their phone number is: 416-415-2000.

Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary and Pastry Arts is located in Satriano, Italy. The school  offers a full immersion course designed for professional chefs. They have a master course that is three months long, and one week courses. For more information go to: italianculinary.it. The international phone number is: 39 334 333 2554.

Cordon Bleu-School Di Arte Culinaria is found in Firenze, Italy and offers a three-month course professional program of Italian cooking and an eight-lesson cooking lessoncourse. They can be found at: cordonbleu-it.com. Their international number is: 39 055 2345468.

Apicius is also in Firenze, Italy and offers several courses starting with: baking and pastry, a one-year certificate course; culinary arts, one and two year certificate courses; wine studies, a one-year certificate course; hospitality management, a four-year certificate course; master in Italian cuisine, post graduate course. For more information go to: apicius.it/english or call international 39 055 265 66 89.

Arte and Cucina located in Siena, Italy offers both amateur and professional courses. amateur culinary courses run one, two, four, or twelve weeks; the professional culinary course is a four-week certificate course. For more information go to: artandcooking.com

Magici Sapori is located in Firenze, Italy and offers a certificate course in culinary arts. For more information go to: magicisapori.com or call international 39 55 354 6746.

Thai Cooking Schools

Harmony and balance are keys to Thai cooking. Chefs consider the interplay between the five tastes of salty, sour, sweet, pungent, and bitter and then blend the presentation to appeal to each taste. Careful presentation adds to the Thai experience with fruit and vegetable carving a requisite skill for Thai chefs. Because the fundamentals of Thai cooking can easily be learned, most schools offer short courses. Serious Thai cuisine aficionados might want to attend several different courses to gain a broader exposure to the discipline. The option of learning Thai cooking in Thailand should be considered since the unique ingredients found in the country make a difference.

Blue Ribbon Culinary Center in Seattle, Washington, offers a several six-hour courses. The time and subject matter of the course change, so check online to see what is offered when: blueribboncooking.com or call 206-328-2442.

Supatra in St. Paul, Minnesota, offers a variety of one-day classes. For details go to: supatra.com or call 651-222-5859.

Fantastic Thai in Old Bridge, New Jersey offers three course choices: one-day classes; four-day courses & chef courses individually designed to the specific needs of the chef. Go to: fantastic-thai.com for details or call 732-277-5902.

I Love Thai Cooking located in Seattle, Washington, offers day-long courses. Pranee Khruasanit Halvorsen teaches courses throughout the Seattle area. The schedule and each course content can be found at: ilovethaicooking.com. The phone contact is: 206-329-4877.

Thai Food and Travel in Oakland, California, offers two options for class work, four classes, each Monday evening for four weeks & five-day, all day for a week advanced course Kasma, the chef, also conducts trips to Thailand to tour the country and taste the cuisine. thaifoodandtravel.com or phone 510-655-8900.

The Boathouse in Phuket, Thailand also offers day-long courses. The course menu changes each day so you can select which day or days you want to take. Go to boathouse-phuket.com or call international 66 76 330 0157.

Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School in Chiang Mai, Thailand offers a stay and cook experience one through five day courses. The cooking classes run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is an option to stay on the premise or come back each day. Go to thaicookeryschool.com or call international 053 206 388.

Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (SITCA) is located at Chaweng Beach, Thailand, and offers recreational three-hour courses & six-day and 12-day skills proficiency courses. Go to sitca.net or call international 66 77 413 172.

Thai Farm Cooking is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the school is on an organic farm outside the city. Transportation to and from your hotel is provided. Courses offered are one- two- or three-day courses Included in the course work is a daily trip to the local outdoor market. Go to thaifarmcooking.net or call international 081 288 5989.

Pat’s House in Phuket, Thailand, in addition to half-day courses they teach the art of fruit carving. Go to cookinginphuket.com or call international 66 76 263 366.

Gaps School of Thai Culinary Arts in Chiang Mai, Thailand, offers one and two day couses and a place to stay. Go to gaps-house.com or call international 66 53 278 140.

Vegetarian Cooking Schools

Vegetarians represent a growing population, and a unique cooking style is needed to meet their dietary requirements. Fundamentalist vegetarians refrain from eating any meat product, to include fish and poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Several variations of vegetarian styles exist and relate to their diet. Ovo vegetarians eat eggs but refrain from any dairy-based products; lacto vegetarians eat dairy products but refrain from eggs; lacto ovo vegetarians eat dairy products and eggs but refrain from meat, fish and poultry. Fortunately, there are schools with vegetarian curriculum to teach healthy food preparation to this growing segment of the dining public.

The Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City has a certificate course of 619 hours that teaches aplant-based curriculum with optional sea food and organic chicken and eggs instruction. The course is ACCET accredited. Go to natrualgourmetinstitute.com for details or call 212-645-5170.

The School of Natural Cookery based in Boulder, Colorado, has three courses in vegetarian cooking, a foundation course of 16-weeks; a personal chef course of four-weeks; a teacher training course of 11-weeks. Students of the foundation course receive a diploma; the other courses are certificate based. Go to naturalcookery.com or call 303-444-8068.

The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts is based in Austin, Texas, and offers an 800-hour course leading to a certificate. Go to naturalepicurean.com or call 512-476-2276.

Living Light Culinary Arts Institute is found in Fort Bragg, California, an offers two certificate courses, gourmet chef training series & associate chef training. the associate chef program is ten days of course work. The gourmet chef training series includes the associate chef program and nine other courses. The school also offers a short course in knife skills. Go to rawfoodchef.com or call 800-816-2319.

The Natural Kitchen Cooking School of Princeton, New Jersey, has a chef training course, natural chef training, eight-months of weekend classes. Students receive a certificate of course completion. Go to naturalkitchenschool.com or call 646-283-9470.

Organic Tuscany Cooking School in Certaldo, Italy. The school is located on a 340-acre farm in Tuscany and offers a week-long, live-in courses. Four courses are suited specifically to vegetarians. Go to organictuscany.org or call international 347 417 5907.

Blue Elephant Bangkok is in Bangkok, Thailand. Classes are held in a 100-year old mansion in the heart of Bangkok. One through seven-day certificate courses are offered, students choose to enroll in any number of the courses. Go to blueelephant.com and click on Bangkok, or call international 66 26 73 9353.

The Blooming Cactus in Lanzarote, Canary Islands, offers a five-day cooking course with a vacation. Go to bloomingcactus.co.uk or call international 34 608 293 873.

Vegan Cooking Schools

Though Vegans represent a small segment of society, they do have specific dietary requirements that need to be understood and catered to. Chefs who know how to prepare healthy meals that meet Vegan needs will find new employment doors open to them. Vegans don’t eat, wear nor use products that are animal based or the by-products of animals. These restrictions include food containing meat, poultry, and sea creatures. Vegans follow this lifestyle for a variety of reasons from a desire for a healthy diet to concern for the environment and ethical treatment of animals.

Living Light is found at Fort Bragg, California. The school offers three certificate course appropriate for Vegans: Gourmet chef, assistant chef & raw culinary arts professional chef. the associate chef program is ten days of course work. The gourmet chef training series includes the associate chef program and nine other courses. The school also offers a short course in knife skills. Go to rawfoodchef.com or call 800-816-2319.

The Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City has a certificate course of 619 hours that teaches aplant-based curriculum with optional sea food and organic chicken and eggs instruction. The course is ACCET accredited. Go to natrualgourmetinstitute.com for details or call 212-645-5170.

Vegan Culinary Academy is in Angwin, California. The course is vegan culinary trainee and is 25-weeks long with 1000 hours of course work. Externship experience in a Vegan restaurant in Santa Rosa is part of the course work. Instructors are ACF certified. Go to veganculinaryacademy.com or call 707-965-2076.

The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts is based in Austin, Texas, and offers a two-year, 800-hour course leading to a culinary arts certificate. Go to naturalepicurean.com or call 512-476-2276.

The School of Natural Cookery based in Boulder, Colorado, has three courses in vegetarian/Vegan cooking, a foundation course of 16-weeks; a personal chef course of four-weeks; a teacher training course of 11-weeks. Students of the foundation course receive a diploma; the other courses are certificate based. Go to naturalcookery.com or call 303-444-8068.