Breaking into the culinary community is not an easy feat. You are up against some of the brightest chefs in the world and there are plenty of them. Culinary programs can help you only so far. You have to have the skill, determination and luck to be able to become a world class chef. It takes a spark of ingenuity and a drive for success that others may not have. Only you can make the decision on whether or not you have what it takes to be an executive chef.



Culinary students have a lot of world wide schools, as well as regional cooking schools from which to choose. As an aspiring chef, students can choose an international cooking school or a program here in the United States, such as the California School of Culinary Arts. They can also choose from any of the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary schools found in many major cities.

There is more to culinary programs than just learning how to saute vegetables and how to handle knives properly when working. It takes real skill to own a restaurant and most programs prepare you for this by teaching you how to manage the front end of the establishment, along with the kitchen portion of your restaurant. You will still have to know how to cook and bake though.

These programs are designed to educate you on the rudimentary skills when you first begin. After that point you will begin learning the more specialized and regional dishes that most diners expect from an accomplished chef. Dishes such as Risotto and Beef Wellington are standard fare on most four and five star restaurant menus. You need to be able to make these dishes with flair and precision if you want to stay afloat in the culinary world.

Just remember that it may seem difficult at times and it will seem as if the instructors are out to get you but if you stick with the program, then you can be one of those cooking students that actually becomes a quality chef. You could even be the next Julia Child or Gordon Ramsey. You might want to limit the curse words in the kitchen though.

It could prove to be a bigger liability than just screaming at your sous chefs. So get out into the culinary world and enjoy yourself. Enroll in one of the great culinary programs around the country, earn your cooking degree and soon you will be running your own kitchen.