Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
Pittsburgh is a city that has reinvented itself. Once a center of heavy, environmentally unfriendly manufacturing, today Pittsburgh is home to strong healthcare, education, technology, and financial services; the city went from industrial pollution to one of the cleanest cities in the world, according to Forbes Magazine. Pittsburgh is home to the Pennsylvania Culinary Institute, which provides outstanding career-oriented education.
Below is some basic information about their Culinary programs, but if you really want to learn more, you can fill out the short questionnaire and someone will contact you to talk about how to apply, time requirements, costs and just about anything else you may need to know.
Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
717 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
About Pennsylvania Culinary Institute - How to Apply - Financial Aid - Programs
Pennsylvania Culinary Institute has been instructing future chefs since 1986. The focus at PCI is on hands-on, practical education that will prepare students for the work force. PCI joined forces with Le Cordon Bleu in 2002 – Le Cordon Bleu started as a Parisian culinary school in 1895 and has grown to an international network of schools on five continents. Le Cordon Bleu is synonymous with excellent food and instruction. PCI attracts students from across the United States and has a solid reputation as one of the leading culinary schools in the country.
Programs Of Study
Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Techniques Diploma: The Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Techniques Diploma program is designed to allow students to receive the best instruction and enter the work force as soon as possible. It is an eight month program, which culminates in an eight week externship. Students receive hands-on, career-oriented instruction to prepare them to become cooks, line cooks, or prep cooks in a variety of settings. PCI’s diploma program focuses on essential skills, such as chemistry, food safety, nutrition, cost control, kitchen and storeroom management, baking and pastry, and French culinary terms and techniques. Upon completion of the program, PCI students earn a Le Cordon Bleu Diplome, which is recognized worldwide.
Associate’s of Specialized Business in Le Cordon Bleu Hospitality and Restaurant Management: This associate’s degree course is sixteen months long, which includes a three-month externship. This will enable students to find suitable employment as manager trainees, restaurant owners and managers, maitre d’s, bartenders, wine stewards, and catering assistant managers. Students focus on learning management and communication skills that are vital in the restaurant and hospitality field, as well as hands-on training and techniques. Students are expected to maintain a professional appearance and attitude, which will be important in their future careers. Students of the Le Cordon Bleu Hospitality and Restaurant Management program will also receive a Le Cordon Bleu Diplome.
Associate’s of Specialized Business in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts: The Culinary Arts program is also a sixteen month course, including a three month externship. Upon completion, students earn a Le Cordon Bleu Diplome, which is recognizable throughout the world. Graduates will be able to find entry-to mid- level employment in restaurants, hotels, country clubs, catering services, and resorts. Students of the Culinary Arts program receive instruction in classical French cooking methods, food safety, kitchen and storeroom management, and food costs. They also learn to make appetizers, soups, sauces, vegetables, entrees, breads, pasta, desserts, pastries, and more. Food presentation, as well as quality, is also an emphasis. Students learn all the skills necessary to do well in their future careers, from cooking techniques to hand-eye coordination.
Associate’s of Specialized Business in Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie and Baking: As with the Culinary Arts and Hospitality and Restaurant Management programs, the Patisserie and Baking program is sixteen months, with a three month externship. Students learn the basics of food safety, nutrition, kitchen management, and communication. As specialists in pastry and baking, students will learn straight and sponge dough methods, fillings, pastries, cookies, tartlets, syrups, creams, icings, pies, cakes, and more. Graduates will be armed with an Associate’s degree and a Le Cordon Bleu Diplome, which will make them eligible for work as entry-level pastry cooks and assistant pastry chefs in hotels, restaurants, resorts, country clubs, and catering businesses.
Faculty
Students wanting careers in the culinary and hospitality fields couldn't’t ask for better instructors than those at Pittsburgh Culinary Institute. The faculty members are outstanding teachers who are also award-winning chefs. Students benefit from hands-on and practical training from experts in the field. In addition, the STAR program at PCI assigns every student a faculty advisor who works one-on-one with them throughout their education
Facilities
In order to learn how to become Le Cordon Bleu-worthy chefs, students need the best equipment. PCI provides industry-current facilities. There are culinary and pastry kitchens, which are professionally equipped, a commercial storeroom, demonstration rooms, and lecture rooms. Student housing is available within a short walk of the PCI campus.
Accreditation
Pennsylvania Culinary Institute is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT).
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to qualifying students. PCI students and candidates should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine if they meet eligibility requirements for federal and state aid. The financial aid representatives at PCI are happy to discuss other financing options and requirements.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Many people still think of Pittsburgh as a rough hewn industrial town; it is, however, one of the most livable cities in the United States. The cost of living is relatively low, there are economic opportunities for residents, and the city is an important center of culture and economy in the Ohio River region.
Trading in the pollution of heavy manufacturing, Pittsburgh has become strong in healthcare, financial, technology, and educational fields. There are seven Fortune 500 companies in the city. In addition to the friendly business atmosphere, Pittsburgh provides cultural events, recreational events, museums, theaters, professional music, shopping, and culinary treats for its residents and visitors. Pittsburgh is a vibrant city and a great place to live and work.
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.
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