Interested in starting your culinary career today at the California Culinary Academy?
If you ever thought about going to cooking school in the San Francisco area, you'll want to learn more about the California Culinary Academy.
What You Need to Know
Finding the right cooking school that meet your needs is the first step to an incredible new career in the field of Culinary Arts. Yes, a good culinary school is lot's of work and once you graduate the hard work continues. However, becoming a professional chef has its rewards too. Right now there is a huge demand for well trained cooks as America has a new found attraction to "celebrity" chefs.
Below is some basic information about the California Culinary Academy program. It should help you decide if this is a school to consider. If it does make your list of possible choices, I suggest you click on the "Request Free School Info" button, fill out the short questionnaire and a representative from the school will contact you to answer all your questions in detail, fill you in on costs and financial aid and explain the next steps to apply.
California Culinary Academy
350 Rhode Island Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
About the School
Founded in 1977, the California Culinary Academy Le Cordon Bleu program is one of the first teaching culinary institutions in the West. The school's goal is to give you the opportunity to gain the skills you'll need to enter into the culinary and hospitality industry.
And what about going to cooking school in one of the great food towns. You will be learning how to cook in a giant fish bowl surrounded by some of the best restaurants and hotels anywhere. What's more, you may have the opportunity to work as an intern in some of these prestigious establishments while a student during the externship and possibly after you graduate as an employee.
Facilities
The school is located in downtown San Francisco at the Historic California Hall. The facilities are large and state-of-the-art. You will find cooking classrooms called laboratories for the development of fundamental culinary skills, baking and pastry kitchens, butcheries, demonstration kitchens, lecture classrooms, bartending and gaming rooms for practicing bar and casino operations, a computer classroom with individual student workstations, and an extensive library.
These facilities contain the latest equipment and provide for an environment that will teach you the skills you need as well as make you comfortable and confident once you graduate.
Programs Offered at CSCA
Culinary Arts
The Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School at the California School of Culinary Arts combines classic French cooking concepts with American technology. As a student you will cover everything from basic cooking skills, to the art of butchering and purchasing and cost control. The school combines classroom demonstration with hands on experience to train you in all aspects of the culinary field.
You will learn classic cooking techniques as well as food prop, nutrition and sanitation. Along with this training, you will receive general education course including composition, psychology, mathematics and public speaking. This 60-week program will prepare you for various positions at restaurants, hotels, culinary schools, private clubs, resorts, cruise lines, and many other culinary related businesses.
Patisserie & Baking
Based on hands-on teaching, you will be shown a wide variety of baking and pastry techniques necessary to find a career in the food industry. The classes will range from classic baking and pastry to the latest innovations and will allow you to create your own style. The skills learned will make you competitive in the demanding field of pastry.
Choose from a 30-week program for weekday classes, or a 45-week program with weekend classes.
Hospitality & Restaurant Management
Here you will learn everything you need to prepare you for an entry level start in restaurant management. You will learn all aspects of managing restaurant facilities from the front of the house to the back. By using a hands-on style of learning, you will obtain the skills to understand how to run your own food industry business.
Upon completion of the program, you will have what it takes to succeed in a very competitive market. Some of the concepts taught are practical management, cuisine, and hospitality and restaurant management. The program is an accelerated 12-month program designed for students interested in owning or running a restaurant.
Going to School in San Francisco, California
What better place to learn about food and hospitality management than San Francisco! The centerpiece of the Bay Area, this town is know for its great food at some of the top restaurants and hotels in the country. As for a place to go to school and live, SF offers diversified population with a variety of cultures, historic architecture, parks, sports, you name it.
The San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill, China Town, Lombard Street. Who can't remember the famous chase scenes from Dirty Harry? And just out side city limits...The Costal Redwoods, Marin County, Angel Island. A short drive from the city and you are in the fabulous wine country of Napa and Sonoma. Wow, what a place to go to school.
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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