Top Culinary School in Portland, Oregon Area
Recognized by the Food Network Awards and by the New York Times in 2007, the culinary scene in Portland is growing at a rapid pace, gaining national attention at the same time.
Largely considered to be the most vegetarian-friendly city in the United States, Portland is also home to a huge microbrewery scene, in addition to being a premier destination for coffee and coffee houses. Home to Oregon Culinary Institute, Portland is a great place to live while pursuing a culinary arts career.
Chock-full of great places to eat, Portland is also home to several leading culinary arts institutions. Western Culinary Institute in Portland is also a top school for culinary arts, patisserie and baking, and hospitality and restaurant management.
There are many questions you must be asking yourself about going to culinary arts school. How much is it going to cost? Is financial aid available? How long does it take? What type of degree will I receive? Will I be able to find a job? All great questions and answers are available.
If you are interested in attending cooking school at Oregon Culinary Institute we recommend you look at the information below and see if this school is the right fit. If it is, click on the "Request School Info" button, fill out the short questionnaire, and a representative from the school will contact you to answer any additional questions you may have.
Oregon Culinary Institute
1717 SW Madison St.
Portland, OR 97205
About Oregon Culinary Institute
Owned and operated by Pioneer Pacific College, Oregon Culinary Institute has been a leader in career education since 1981. Founded on the principle that a culinary education should be affordable, practical, and complete, Oregon Culinary Institute is dedicated to providing a solid foundation for careers in the food service industry.
With hands-on training and practical knowledge at the heart of Oregon Culinary Institute's philosophy, it's no surprise that students spend the majority of their time in kitchen labs, learning alongside chef instructors. With a long history of preparing graduates for careers in the culinary arts, it's no surprise that Oregon Culinary Institute knows what Executive Chefs want when looking for a new hire.
In addition to classic techniques, students at Oregon Culinary Institute will learn about the aesthetics of presentation, nuances of flavor, and importance of efficiency in the kitchen. At Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, the following programs are available: Baking and Pastry, Baking and Pastry Management, Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts Management, and Restaurant Management.
Diploma in Baking and Pastry
A program that can be completed in as little as 24 weeks, the Baking and Pastry Diploma program at Oregon Culinary Institute includes 240 hours of training in an externship, in addition to 16 weeks of training in on-campus kitchens. In addition to learning about baking methods, basic skills, weights and measures, sanitation, and safety, students in the Baking and Pastry Diploma program will also learn how to produce desserts and breads for the school's public restaurant. A combination of extensive practice in kitchen labs, lecture, and demonstration, the Baking and Pastry Diploma program is perfect for those looking for an entry-level position in the food service industry.
Diploma in Culinary Arts
Available as a Diploma program, the Culinary Arts curriculum at Oregon Culinary Institute consists of 360 hours of on-the-job training, in addition to 24 weeks spent in the kitchen and classroom. Taught by chef instructors in a hands-on fashion, the Culinary Arts coursework focuses on the basics of the trade through a practical training curriculum that covers the essentials of working in a professional kitchen.
Diploma in Restaurant Management
A 34 week program, the Diploma in Restaurant Management curriculum at Oregon Culinary Institute includes 24 weeks on kitchen and classroom training, in addition to 360 hours at an externship. In addition to learning about food and beverage services, dining room management, culinary arts, wine studies, and marketing principles, students will also learn about human resource management, computer applications, and communication skills. A great program for those interested in an entry-level position in the food service industry, the Diploma in Restaurant Management curriculum also includes hands-on training in the school's public restaurant.
Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
An outgrowth of the Culinary Arts Diploma program, the Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts degree program can be completed in just over a year. Once the Culinary Arts Diploma is completed, students at Oregon Culinary Institute may transfer tot he Springfield, Wilsonville, or Clackamas campuses for a series of Foundation and General Education Requirements. In addition, the AAS in Culinary Arts degree consists of a 34 week culinary arts program and 30 weeks of business management/general education requirements.
Accreditation
Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon is a division of Pioneer College. As such, the school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. In addition, Oregon Culinary Institute is approved by the Oregon Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs for the training of veterans, and the Oregon Office of Degree Authorization to confer and offer academic degrees.
Baking and Pastry Management - Associate of Applied Science
A 58-week program, the Baking and Pastry Management AAS program at Oregon Culinary Institute is a great way to prepare for an exciting career in a variety of food service industry settings. In addition to hands-on training, students will learn via lectures, demonstration, and an externship.
Coursework includes topics such as dining room management, wine studies, baking methods, sanitation, pastry arts, safety, food and beverage studies, weights and measures, human resource management, marketing principles, and computer applications. In addition, students will learn about business management, communication skills, and other topics via a variety of general education classes.
Restaurant Management - Associate of Applied Science
Completed in as little as 64 weeks, the Associate of Applied Science program in Restaurant Management is a great way to prepare for a career in the food service industry. Coursework in the AAS - Restaurant Management program includes food and beverage service, culinary arts, human resources management, and communication skills. Students will learn through a combination of hands-on training in the school's restaurant, demonstrations, and lectures. Studies also include coursework in computer applications, marketing principles, business management, and dining room management.
Facilities and Faculty
Located at 1717 SW Madison Street in Portland, OR, Oregon Culinary Institute is located in a 13,000 square foot facility. The campus is equipped with classrooms, a fine-dining restaurant, a computer lab, and industry-standard kitchens. Featuring focused and short-term culinary arts education, the faculty at Oregon Culinary Institute teach in a hands-on fashion, and students benefit from one-on-one support at all levels of their education experience. Additionally, the campus is easily accessible by the MAX train or bus.
Financial Aid
An easy-to-understand admissions process, the faculty and staff at Oregon Culinary Institute are prepared to guide you through the tuition planning process. Federal Financial Aid programs include the Federal Pell Grant, Dederal Direct Student Stafford Loans, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans, and the Academic Competitiveness Grant, among others. Students in need of financial aid should begin by completing a FAFSA form.
Going to School in Portland
Home to a world-famous culinary scene, the city of Portland is a great place to live if you've dreamed of a career in the culinary arts. The mild weather and rich soil of the region is conducive to producing some of the best ingredients and food in the country. Some of the most famous include Chinook salmon, Dungeness crab, heirloom tomatoes, Hood River apples and pears, Yaquina Bay Oysters, and an abundance of hazlenuts and cranberries. In addition, the Portland region is known for producing some of the finest Pinot Noir wines in the world.
A bike-friendly city that is known for it's abundance of outdoor activities, residents of Portland enjoy easy access to public transportation, snowboarding, hiking, and windsurfing, among other recreational outlets. In addition, the largest bookstore in the country is located in the city, as are some of the nation's finest coffee shops. Open air markets are a signature of the spring, summer, and fall months, as are regional food festivals such as The Bite of Oregon. A great place to live, Portland is a progressive community that is ripe with opportunity for the culinary arts student.
Other Portland Area Culinary Schools of Interest
What Do You Need To Know to Get Into Culinary School?
As the Reluctant Gourmet, I have never been to cooking school, but I keep telling myself it's never too late. The best way for you to learn more about becoming a chef is to visit my new Culinary School Resource Center. Here you will find articles, books, school resources and many other useful resources.
Also, try reading as much as you can about going to cooking school and what it is like to be a professional chef. One book I highly recommend to anyone thinking about culinary school is, The Making of A Chef, by Michael Ruhlman. It will really help you understand what you may be getting yourself into. For a complete list of Books For Cooks.
