Train How to Cook French Cuisine with Culinary Education

To the French, to eat means much more than to simply satisfy hunger. Fine food has elegance and pleases the eye and nose as well as the palate. Three things define good food; appearance, quality, and flavor. Creating such a meal is an art form. French cuisine is sensuous foie gras, soufflés that float off the plate, buttery mushrooms and so much more. It is the foundation to much of the culinary tradition in Europe and America. Learning French cooking is like learning Latin to understand a host of other languages, it is a foundation from which so many other culinary traditions spring. Although most culinary schools in America have a base of French tradition, a few specialize in French cooking

Finding a school that is right for you

French culinary based schools offer a number of programs leading to certificates of completion, diplomas, associate degrees and even a bachelor degree. Since this is in the kitchen education, look for a school that is well-equipped with the latest and best cooking facilities. The teaching staff should have both education and experience in the art of French cooking. A key component in a quality program is an externship experience. If cost is a consideration, carefully look not just at the expense, but also at the financial assistance available. Some programs include an adventure in France, touring and working with French chefs. For the truly adventurous and thick-skinned, immersion into a French school in France might be the answer.

Employment Opportunities

French culinary arts dual-track, with fine food preparation on one side and bakery/pastry on the other. This is a tradition introduced by Louis XIV who came up with the notion that food should be presented in courses which led to specialization. Chef school graduates usually start life as a line cook, move up to sous chef and then executive chef. Pay depends on locale and the type of restaurant. In New York City, an executive chef should expect to make $69,000 to $104,000 per year. On the other end, a line cook earns $25,000 per year. Assistant pastry chefs make $30,000 to $46,000., and an executive pastry chef brings in $45,000 to $68,000.

Nationally, the job market for entry-level culinary workers is good, due to high turnover. Growth through 2018 is expected to be six percent. Top-end chefs face a competitive job market. Building a career on solid educational credentials makes a difference on the top end of the market. Success in the field comes to those who show creativity, leadership, determination and dependability.

On Campus French Culinary Arts Schools

Boston Unviersity
808 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-9852
bu.edu/met/programs/graduate/gastronomy/
Culinary Arts, Certificate

The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College
4207 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
877-925-6884
walnuthillcollege.edu
Culinary Arts, BA & AA
Pastry Arts, BA & AA
Chef and Master Bakery Chef, Certificate
ACCSC Accredited

L’academie Cuisine
16006 Industrial Drive
Gaethersburg, MD 20877
301-670-8670
lacademie.com
Culinary Arts, Diploma
Pastry Arts, Diploma
ACCET Accredited

Keiser University
keiseruniversity.edu
Located in Melbourne, Sarasota & Tallahassee

Melbourne campus
900 South Babcock Street
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-255-2255
Culinary Arts, AA
Bakery and Pastry, AA
CCSAC Accredited

Sarasota campus
6151 Lake Osprey Drive
Sarasota, Fl 34240
866-534-7382
Culinary Arts, AA
Bakery and Pastry, AA
CCSAC Accredited

Tallahassee campus
1700 Halstead Blvd. Bldg 2
Tallahassee, Fl 32309
877-243-3123
Culinary Arts, AA
Bakery and Pastry, AA
CCSAC Accredited

L’Ecole Culinaire
Located in St. Louis & Memphis
lecole.edu

St. Louis campus
9811 South Forty Drive
St. Louis, MO 63124
888-214-1352
Culinary Essentials, Diploma
Culinary Arts, AOS
Culinary Management, AOS

Memphis campus
1245 North Germantown Parkway
Cordova, TN 38016
888-214-1352
Culinary Essentials, Diploma
Culinary Arts, AOS
Culinary Management, AOS

Chez Boucher Cooking School
32 Depot Square
Hampton, NH 03840
603-926-2202
chezboucher.com
Pastry Arts, Certificate
Culinary Arts, Certificate

Culinary Institute LeNorte
7070 Allensby
Houston, TX 77022
888-536-6873
culinaryinstitute.edu
Culinary Arts, AA & Diploma
Bakery and Pastry Arts, AA & Diploma
ACCST & ACP Accredited

The French Culinary Institute at the International Culinary Center
462 Broadway
New York, New York 10013
888-324-2433
internationalculinarycenter.com
Culinary Arts
Pastry Arts
International Bread Mastry
ACCSC Accredited

Le Cordon Bleu
chefs.edu

Below is a list of their United States campus locations, however they are discontinuing operations in the U.S.

Colorado Technical University & American Intercontinental University are affiliates which offer programs to new students.

Atlanta, GA
1927 Lakeside Parkway
Tucker, GA 30084
588-549-8222
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate & AA
ACCSC Accredited

Austin, TX
11400 Burnet Road, Suite 2100
Austin, TX 78758
888-559-7222
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate & AA
ACICS Accredited

Boston, MA
215 First Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
888-394-6222
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
ACCSCT Accredited

Chicago, IL
361 West Chestnut
Chicago, IL 60610
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, AA
HLC Accredited

Dallas, TX
11830 Webb Chapel Road #1200
Dallas, TX 75234
888-495-5222
Culinary Arts, AA
ACICS Accredited

Las Vegas, NV
1451 Center Crossing Road
Las Vegas, NV 89144
888-551-8222
Culinary Arts, AA
ACCSCT Accredited

Los Angeles, CA
521 E Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91101
866-230-9450
Culinary Arts, AA
ACICS Accredited

Minneapolis, MN
1315 Mendota Heights Road
Mendota Heights, MN 55120
888-348-5222
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate & AA
ACCSC Accredited

Miami, FL
3221 Enterprise Way
Miramar, FL 33025
888-914-1222
Culinary Arts, Diploma & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Diploma & AA
ACICS Accredited

Orlando, FL
8511 Commodity Circle, Suite 100
Orlando, FL 32819
888-793-3222
Culinary Arts, Diploma & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Diploma & AA
ACICS Accredited

Pittsburgh, PA
717 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
888-314-8222
Culinary Arts, Diploma & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Diploma & AA
ACCSC Accredited

Portland, OR
600 SW 10th Avenue Suite 400
Portland, OR 97205
888-891-6222
Culinary Arts, Diploma & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Diploma & AA
ACCSC Accredited

Sacramento, CA
450 Del Paso Road
Sacramento, CA 95834
888-807-8222
Culinary Arts, Certificate
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate
ACICS Accredited

San Francisco, CA
350 Rhode Island Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
888-897-3222
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate & AA
ACICS Accredited

Scottsdale, AZ
8100 East Camelback Road, Suite 1001 |
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
888-557-4222
Culinary Management, BA
Culinary Arts, Certificate & AA
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate & AA
ACCSC Accredited

Seattle, WA
360 Corporate Drive North
Seattle, WA 98188
888-909-7222
Culinary Arts, Certificate
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate
ACICS Accredited

St. Louis, MO
7898 Veterans Memorial Parkway |
St Peters, MO 63376
866-951-7222
Culinary Arts, Certificate
Patisserie and Bakery, Certificate
ACICS Accredited

Schools in France

Le Cordon Bleu Paris
8, rue Léon Delhomme
75015, Paris, France
Te l : +33 (0)1 53 68 22 50
cordonbleu.edu/paris/accueil/fr
Pastry, Certificate, 10-week course
Baking and Pastry, Diploma, 9-month course
French Cuisine
Wine
Hautes Etudes du Goût

Gostronomicon
24 rue de l’Eglantier
34450, Vias, France
+33 467 215 556
gastronomicom.fr
Culinary
Pastry
Wine

Ferrandi
28 Rue de l’Abbé Grégoire
75006 Paris, France
+33 1 49 54 28 00
ferrandi-paris.fr/en/
French Cuisine, 9-month course
Pastry and Bread Making, 9-month course