Calling all chefs and restaurant <span title="owners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?">owners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...</span>

Question

i am just coming into high school and i want to know the best courses to take also i would like some good collages to go to I want to be either a sugar artist, chocolateir or a french pastry chef or if i cant make up my mind all three i need suggestions

Answer 1

You are in a great position!  IF you want to stay in Chicago, take courses in the summer at any place listed here: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_loc=chic...

Also, click above for links to comments and suggestions.

IF you remain in Chicago after HS, the best and only place that offers a bachelor&#039;s is The Illinois Institute of Art.  

If you do not stay in IL, best places after HS are in New York or California, since you want to be a pastry chef, its all in design, talent, and food chemistry...pick a place in NY/CA, brush up on your French now and within the coming years.  Find a NY/CA school that can offer a 1-2 year abroad program in France!

The California School of Culinary Arts in Pasadena might be right up your alley!  Here is a list of other national spots:

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/school...

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

Just to give you a few more options, here&#039;s another contact list for Chicago-area cooking schools:

http://www.cookingschools.com/cities/chi...

You might also consider just calling one of the local schools in these lists and speaking to one of the counselors there.

As for information you can look up yourself, take a look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics&#039; &quot;Occupational Outlook Handbook&quot; listing for Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers.  It not only covers job prospects but educational background as well and may also give professional associations you can contact for more in-depth career information.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm

The Occupational Information Network&#039;s O*Net database also has these profiles for various food-service industry careers:

http://online.onetcenter.org/find/result...

Your local public or school library will also have other books, articles and databases that can be useful.  Make sure to talk to the folks at the Reference Desk to help you track it all down.

Just a quick note, I&#039;ve had reason to contact faculty members at the French Pastry School to help answer a reference question in the past.  They were very helpful and may be a good place to start.

http://www.frenchpastryschool.com/

Hope these tips are helpful!

--Bill Pardue

Arlington Heights Memorial Library http://www.ahml.info

Librarians--Ask Us, We Answer!

Find your local Library at http://lists.webjunction.org/libweb/Publ...

Answer 3

In High school take every and all cooking courses that you can. After high school try applying to something like the California culinary academy or New york culinary academy. Don&#039;t give up. it would also help a lot if you work at any restaurant that is not a fast food place. Start with a small place and work your way up to a really nice restaurant.

Answer 4

Don&#039;t think this is funny but check a Home economics class .also math,english and a second language.&quot;french&quot;

You need good grades.!

If you can accomplish this,try to get into the Culinary Institute or a local Culinary School.You&#039;ll learn all the basics of food service and cooking .You can then specialize into the field that you desire.