Traditional culinary schools have evolved considerably since the 1950’s and 60’s. At that time, gourmet cooking was still based primarily on centuries of tradition firmly rooted in the European cooking tradition. Although there were culinary schools in the United States at that time, they were few and far between because many still felt that the world’s great chefs hailed primarily from Europe and France in particular. Times have changed considerably and the world of gourmet cooking has benefited greatly from the shift.
If you still remember Julia Child’s television series that introduced good cooking to the general public, you may also remember the cooking style she demonstrated which was traditional, satisfying and heavy foods. There were rich sauces and traditional French cuisine that was wonderful, however there was little variety in terms of regional dishes. French, Italian and Spanish dishes were often demonstrated, but Asian and American ethnic cuisines weren’t taught.
It isn’t surprising, like most chefs at that time, Julia Child was traditionally trained in the French tradition. The relatively small number of culinary schools in the United States at mid-century were all based on a traditional French pattern. Over the years, however, the demand for creative dishes and ethnic cuisines grew and culinary institutes began to respond. The finest schools continue to cover the basic and advanced techniques of European cooking, but now also give students in-depth understanding of regional cooking techniques, seasonings and styles.
In the last three decades, ethnic and regional food specialties have gained huge popularity. Where these foods were once found primarily in ethnic neighborhoods, they have now gone mainstream and been elevated to fine cuisine due to their increased popularity and the interest of great chefs around the globe. Culinary schools now teach students everything from unusual cooking methods to sausage making and everything in between.
In an increasingly small world where so many people travel to different cultures and try new foods, it isn’t surprising that the interest in regional and world cuisine has taken off. When travelers return home, they hope to find the delicious foods they’ve learned to love at home as well, and chefs are responding to this trend.
Today’s culinary schools cover a wide variety of food traditions, including French, Spanish, Italian, Asian, Polynesian, Creole and Cajun, as well as many sub-categories of each of these international cuisines. “Fusion” foods are also increasingly popular. Fusion is the combination of two distinct types of cuisine in order to create unique new dishes. Fusion restaurants are now some of the most popular in the country because of their skillful blending of many international traditions that produce flavorful new dishes to tempt diners.
If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and trying new ways to prepare traditional foods, culinary school may be the perfect career choice for you. Be sure to ask each school you are considering what kinds of cuisines will be taught. The best culinary schools have evolved and continue to do so in order to tempt the public’s increasingly discriminating and worldly palate.
It takes dedication to become a chef. Many people entertain the idea of becoming a chef and owning their own restaurant but few actually make this dream come true. Even fewer individuals make their restaurant a success. You may know how to chop an onion or saut some vegetables but that isn’t enough. Before you go looking into culinary arts schools, you are going to need a lot more information in order to make such an important decision.
The best culinary school can only teach its culinary students so much. There has to be a will and drive to succeed. Being a chef means checking your ego at the door, at least while you are learning. There is no such thing as a weekend off and the hours can be late. You will have to clean, cook and prepare food long before your first customer sits down to order a meal. You can expect to work holidays and work more than a forty hour week.
Culinary arts schools vary across the country and the world but if you are determined to go ahead and know what is in store for you, then you cannot go wrong with the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School offered at many campuses across the world. They have what it takes in order to teach you how to become the award winning executive chef that you want to be. The program can be found in many different states and you will not regret gaining admittance.
The programs at Le Cordon Bleu are divided into three different course programs. The Culinary Arts program, Patisserie and Baking, and Hospitality and Restaurant Management. If you can afford the time and money to attend all three programs, then you will be ahead of many culinary students in the industry who elect to just attend one program.
It is a great way to learn all facets of the industry. You will be well rounded in different cooking and baking techniques, as well as learning the skills needed to run your own restaurant.
Culinary arts schools are not cheap nor are they quick. It takes time to become an chef. You will want to choose a program that is accredited and has a high success ratio from former students.
Small factors such as these can make the difference between being a mediocre chef and being someone who commands respect from the culinary community. With hard work and determination you can get your culinary degree and perhaps be the next big television cooking star or be in command of your own five star restaurant. Good luck and try to enjoy what you are cooking!
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Synonymous with baseball is BBQ and beer. For avid sports fans hungry for the season’s excitement, Wrigley Field won’t let you down. The expansive concourse is lined with dozens of different food vendors that will satisfy any craving. Here are some of the best food stops we’ve found in and around Wrigley Field. Hopefully something here will make the ball game all the more enjoyable for you and your friends.
Hot Dogs
Before you dig into the game, dive into a juicy hot dog — but make sure it’s Chicago style. Like all of Chicago’s culinary traditions, this city favorite is piled with loads of toppings, like onions, relish and spices. Ask a Wrigley field usher and they will guide you towards the Italian beef specialty stand located along the third base line. If you’re feeling extra daring, try the beef and sausage combo. It’s sure to pack some heat.
Sandwiches & More
The stadium is known for its Wrigley Pig — a pulled pork sandwich that tastes better than most pub versions. If you’re in the mood for something other than pulled pork or polish sausage, surrounding the stadium is Wrigleyville. This city hub is well known for its various restaurants and entertainment venues. From upscale Italian to tangy Thai, Wrigleyville will get your appetite going for the big game.
Refreshments
No matter what you choose to eat inside the stadium, you have to wash it down with some Old Style beer, brewed by Wisconsins Pabst Brewing Company. For hardcore fans looking for some Cubs camaraderie, hitting up Bernie’s Outdoor Beer Garden is a must. Players are even known to stop by this Wrigleyville joint after a game.
Pub Food
As the largest cafe in the stadium, the Captain Morgan Club offers an assortment of salads, burgers and other bar style food. It opens daily at 10 am even for fans without tickets. Goose Island, a brewery located about four doors down from the ballpark, is famous for its specialty beers and greasy fare. Fans can agree, Goose Island is “very Chicago”, without being phony or fussy. Prepare for big crowds here after the game, so send Aunt Judy to save a table before the final stretch.
Pizza
Located right next to the Wrigley Field transit stop is Bacca Pizzeria. This place is perfect for ticket holders late to the game and need a quick bite before settling into the seats. Nothing too fancy, but oh-so enjoyable, Bacca’s is a family-run chain that offers a jumbo slice of pizza plus a free soda for only $3.50.
It’s A Home Run!
As every baseball lover knows, the ultimate ball-time experience includes the proper food assortment…even when you only want popcorn to toss into the air, or peanuts because you love the sound of crunchy shells beneath your shoes.
This article is presented by The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago offers Le Cordon Bleu culinary education classes and culinary training programs in Chicago, Illinois. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/Chicago for more information.
The jobs mentioned are examples of certain potential jobs, not a representation that these outcomes are more probable than others. The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago does not guarantee employment or salary.
Finding yourself in the middle of the African Desert may present a few challenges to the skillful talents of a culinary artist. Ingredients are a lot harder to come by when you are stuck in the middle of the Desert. It’s just so much easier (and certainly more convenient) for a for a traditional restaurant chef who can very easily just pop out to nearest grocer to stock up on those must have necessities and luxury items.
However challenging, Culinary Artist Theresa Fehrsen has bravely stepped up to this challenge and is set to become the next Culinary Safari Chef Extraordinaire in her role as the new head chef at one of the most luxurious resorts in the Kalahari Desert.
Theresa Fehrsen has a lifelong fascination and passion for artistically tantalizing the palates by creatively presenting an array of culinary delights through inventive cooking. Being raised on a farm since she was a little girl, she always had access to an abundance of fresh produce and natural ingredients. Theresa’s fascination with natures own instilled in her from a very young age, a passion and skill in being able to effortlessly delivery incredible cuisine. The natural flair that she inherited from her mother for experimenting with food lead Theresa to Warwick’s Chef School in Hermanus in the Cape Province where she studied to become a master of the culinary arts.
When luxury ingredients are not always as easy to come by, it becomes essential to tap into the deepest level of intelligent creativity imaginable in order to plan well for the most extraordinary results. With the reserve being located more than 100 kilometers away from the next closest town; this Safari Chef Extraordinaire has to rely heavily on the locals in the surrounding areas. All the vegetables and herbs are organically grown in the safari camps and are protected with shade cloth to keep out the bugs, antelope and the warthog.
In keeping with an eco-friendly culture, the reserve’s waste disposal policy encourages sustainable travel to minimize the impact on the environment. Organic waste is therefore collected and used for the food gardens in a programme designed to maximize production of vegetables for households in remote areas. As further commitment to wildlife conservation, the reserve runs a programme to establish earth worm boxes which process organic waste into compost. The worms are able to process paper effectively as well as food waste. It is no wonder that with such dedication to eco-friendly tourism, that the reserve was honored as this year’s Wildlife Conservation Winner in Cond Nast Travelers thirteenth annual ecotourism World Saver’ Awards.
Even with so many challenges, the Kalahari Desert now has much to aspire to with chef and bartender safaris, a tandoori oven and a pizza oven shaped like a termites nest. This describes only a few of the astonishing plans of this creative genius as this Chef plans place Safari Cuisine at the very top of South Africa’s culinary arts map.
Not only has this culinary artist mastered the skill of inspired cooking, she also has a keen passion and interest in liquid refreshments. To further please and excite the tongue, she combines her cuisine with only the top selection of fine South African wines. The promise of a superb wine will compliment the delightful cuisine while enhancing the flavors and heightening the appreciation for both the wine and the cuisine.
To add an extra blend of class and sophistication to any safari cuisine, diners enjoy a selection of both alcoholic and non alcoholic cocktails. Even the children can select from a menu of fresh smoothies and non alcoholic beverages to accompany the healthier, but delicious alternatives to hamburgers.
Theresa is looking forward to completing advanced patisserie and nutrition courses, specializing in producing delicious menus for guests with food intolerances and allergies to ensure that her delightful cuisine is all encompassing and pleasing to all her diners.
Even the most experienced master chef is always willing to learn new things about the culinary arts. Knowing the right methods and techniques could turn ordinary or bland meals into spectacular feasts you will be remembered for. Gather as many tips and suggestions as you can as a means to improve your cooking.
In order to get the most out of your selection of spices, you should store them out of the light and heat. Exposing spices to heat, humidity, and light will shorten their lifespan. Store spices in a dark, cool location to keep them flavorful and fresher for longer. Your culinary preparations will taste better if your spices are fresh.
A great tip for using cooking oil is to ensure you pour it onto the sides of the pan, rather than directly in the pan’s center, so that it will be sufficiently heated upon reaching the food. Using this method can help you to boost the flavor of foods.
To make your French fries crispier, let the raw potatoes soak for about half an hour in cold water prior to frying. When your potatoes soak up cold fluids, their fibers are reinforced. This means that they will hold up better to the heat necessary for the frying process.
Nearly any recipe benefits from using fresh ingredients rather than the frozen or dried version. The more fresh ingredients you use in your cooking, the better your dishes will be. Fresh ingredients have more flavor, and are less costly than frozen and canned ingredients.
When you store flour, sugar or any type of baking mixes, always use airtight containers. Avoid exposure to moisture and insects by sealing food in airtight containers. Almost every store has some form of them, and they are usually inexpensive.
Lowering your oil amounts when cooking can help you have a healthier diet and lose weight. These products contain a lot of unnecessary fat. Nonstick cooking sprays are a great substitute which ends up giving you the same result except in a healthy way, as opposed to the oil which is unhealthy.
It is fairly easy to dry tomatoes yourself. Dry your own by slicing ripe tomatoes 1/2″ thick, or cut Romas in half, lengthwise. You should place them on cooling rack, and salt them lightly with the cut side up. Put a cookie sheet underneath the cooling rack and then set the pair in an oven heated to 190 degrees. Leave for as many as ten hours. The dried tomatoes can be put in plastic bags and frozen. Dried tomatoes could also be put in a jar with fresh herbs and topped up with olive oil. Dried tomatoes should be stored within the refrigerator and used within two weeks.
Make sure you thoroughly clean your utensils before starting to cook. Any residual food matter missed during washing can spoil the dish you intend to cook. This could lead to problems from bacteria being spread.
When cooking, it is always a good idea to get a little creative. Sometimes its okay to deviate from following a recipe step-by-step. Change up the recipe until you perfect your own variation. That type of cooking finesse make a genuine cook!
To give your pasta some added zip, save the water you use to boil the pasta. Use about a fourth of a cup for this tip. Put in some of the water when you mix the pasta and the sauce. The pasta water contains starch, which will give your sauce a thick creaminess.
When you are sauteing a food, make sure you do not add too much to the pan. The moisture that the extra food volume adds will cause the food to steam, which means it won’t be as crispy as intended. Also, make sure that this is done at a temperature that is low.
See to it that your herbs are stored in a dry, cool and dark area. Exposure to light, heat and humidity can cause them to lose a lot of their flavor very fast. In this location, the spices are exposed to heat that will cause their flavors to dissipate.