In eighteenth century France the modern day buffet was developed which soon spread across Europe. Serving a meal to oneself has a long and interesting history, and eventually this style of eating was converted to modern day buffets.
The second half of the nineteenth century, especially in the English speaking world, buffets became extremely popular for meals. Buffets are very popular with people today, because, it offers plenty of food variety at a reasonable price. People can create their own dishes with more meat, less vegetables and fewer side dishes, plus creating salads with appealing ingredients that they enjoy. Buffets offer people the opportunity to try new types of food that they would not order off a menu in a restaurant.
Infusions Restaurant at the Okanagan College hosts many buffets every year, and the last “buffet” was held a week after their Okanagan Wine Festival Gourmet Dinner which attracted a sellout crowd of over 80 dining guests. Guests were treated to a “Five Course” gourmet dinner with special Okanagan Valley wines to accompany each course.
The Okanagan College Culinary Arts Buffet will be prepared with the special talents of the new, up and coming future chefs of your favorite restaurants, cruise ships, hotels, ski and golf resorts, all directed and instructed by World Class Chefs. The buffet will include fresh meats, poultry, seafood of all types, and of course Okanagan Valley fresh vegetables and fruits.
Infusions Restaurant and the Okanagan College Culinary Arts Bakery will have a spectacular dessert buffet for this special night with freshly made gourmet desserts, and with a delicious assortment of as many freshly made Pastries, Tortes, Cakes and Chocolate Confections as a person could possibly eat after the meal.
The Culinary Arts buffet will offer a HUGH selection of seafood and seafood platters, from Sushi Rolls, Dim Sum, Salmon, Halibut to Shark and Lobster. Dishes containing Gratin of Potatoes & Yams, many types of Pasta with Grilled and Glazed Vegetables, and of course the Roast Beef and Beef Tenderloin, and ALL for $15.95!
For people in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley who want a “Spectacular Feast”, this buffet will take place on December 12, 2008 at Okanagan College’s Infusions Restaurant. Infusions Restaurant at the Okanagan College and the Okanagan College Culinary Arts program hosts many private gourmet dinners, private functions and private buffets every year for people, companies and organizations in all parts of the Okanagan Valley and beyond.
Join them on Friday at Okanagan College’s Infusions Restaurant for their Spectacular Friday Night Seafood & Prime Rib Buffet! The Chefs and Culinary Arts Student chefs will create special tantalizing items for this special December Buffet Extravaganza! Come in on Friday, December 12, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and enjoy a fine gourmet meal of your choice. Infusions Restaurant is located at 1000 KLO Road, in Kelowna. Fine Dining At Kelowna’s Best Kept Secret!
A very reasonable price for this gourmet buffet at $15.95. Call for reservations at Infusions Restaurant: 250-762-5445 ext. 4426.
The festive season is characterized by expanded waistlines due to the indulgence that goes on unabated. The average person will gain in excess of 5lbs over this period. A few of us might really be surprised about the whole waistline expansion thing while others find the roast potatoes, chocolates, mulled wine and mince pies too delicious to care about putting on the pounds. The cold weather during Christmas also plays a very big part in ensuring that we put on the pounds due to the simple fact that our bodies need energy to stay warm which translates to more eating. One of the highlights of Christmas has to be the traditional Christmas feast and especially the stuffed turkey and Mullen wine. Families gather for the Christmas festivities and end up swapping gifts for Christmas as they indulge in brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce and the roast turkey. This is also a time that most of us let our guard down and indulge in just about anything that comes our way.
They say a rest is as good as a change, there are some of us who would like to experience a different Christmas altogether especially in terms of the culinary department. Since it is a free world, you have the liberty of treating yourself to some new Christmas culinary delights instead of the usual traditional ones. Who knows, you might as well start your own Christmas tradition. One of the easiest ways to get this done is to let someone take over the cooking business on that fateful day. Christmas holidays make for some of the most splendid ways of spending Christmas. There are package gifts that are ideal as gifts for her while others are best suited as Christmas gifts for him. Such a treat will see to it that you get someone entirely different to do all the pampering for you. Mums will also find such a gift package quite ideal since they are the ones charged with preparations for the Christmas dinner while everyone else gets to enjoy some beer or gifts.
A Christmas holiday might be anything from a night in a local suite to a fortnight in the Maldives. It will all depend on the bank balance that one has. One of the best gift packages that fall under this is the hotel and theatre for two experience. Another great option to avert the usual traditional Christmas dinner is to spend the day at a relatives instead of your place. In this way, you get to relax a little since the responsibility of entertaining the guests will be on someone else. One of the hardest aspects of the traditional Christmas dinner is the fact that you have to feed lots of people at a go. The food is in huge quantities and it has to be done to perfection. If he happens to be interested in cooking, you can always get him a cookery demonstration for two which has been rated severally as one of the best Christmas gifts for him especially if he loves cooking. A recipe book is also one of the best gifts for her if you want to do away with the traditional Christmas dinner.
Rising unemployment rates in the recent past have made hunting for a job a guerilla search. The good news is that while most sectors in our economy have suffered cutbacks in employment, many of them are now back in business and are ready to hire. Here’s what you should be doing.
Still in college or heading there? You have the opportunity to make the smart career choices now that can hone your skills for the job opportunities that are in greater demand today.
Already employed? Now is the time to consider upgrading your credentials with a course that could augment your skills and qualify you for promotions or a new career.
Careers that Show Excellent Growth Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, certain sectors of our economy are showing more optimistic signs of growth.* To enhance your job marketability, below are a few career options you should consider pursuing in 2011.
Healthcare. Its not for everyone, but if you’re looking for the likelihood of job security, this could be the place for your skills. During the recession, the healthcare industry was one of the few industries that actually hired more people. Plus, employment rates have been rising in almost every field of specialization. Career options are open in nursing, healthcare management, medical assisting, and accounting in hospitals and long-term facilities.
Energy Sector. As gas costs continue to rise, focus today has turned to saving energy and discovering alternative fuel sources. Opportunities lay ahead in marine, wind, and solar energies, carbon management, and more.
Business Administration. Business will always require administrators and managers, and opportunities are growing. Sales and customer service representatives are also in demand. Plus, with business gone global, more multinational companies are looking for people who are willing to travel or relocate to different parts of the world.
Information Technology (IT). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, IT is one of the fastest-growing job markets.** There is a huge demand for a top-level, higher-end IT workforce, which includes talented systems designers and software developers. Internet publishers have good job prospects as well. The IT industry is dynamic, and a bright future could lie ahead for those who can keep up with the pace of information technology.
Good News for Fresh Grads
The job market for fresh grads is growing. Entry-level job postings for candidates with less than one year of experience have increased by 13 percent from the previous year at the end of 2010.***
Courses can prepare you both practically and academically to face real-life challenges in todays job market. There are a wide range of degree programs to consider in order to pursue a career in any of these growing fields, including health sciences degrees nursing administration degrees, information technology degrees and more.
*United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Statistics.” dol.gov/dol/topic/statistics/index.htm
**”Fourth Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report” Beyond.com, Inc. beyond.com/Media/BeyondcomCareerTrendAnalysisReport-4QT10.pdf
***Koc, Edwin and Mimi Collins. “Job Outlook 2011: College Hiring Outlook Positive in All Regions.” NACE. naceweb.org/Press/Releases/Job_Outlook_2011__College_Hiring_Outlook_Positive_in_All_Regions.aspx
Pastry schools
Pastry schools provide students with training and expertise to become good bakers/pastry chefs. They offer various degrees and programs through which students learn the art of baking. Pastry schools offer the following degrees:
Bachelors of baking and pastry arts
Students enrolled in this program learn how to make bakery items and pastries. They will be given knowledge and in depth training, preparing them to become professional bakers or pastry chefs. Students also learn the scientific and biological components involved in baking, providing insight into chemical compositions and human health.
Students practice the techniques and processes of baking and pastry making in kitchen labs. This includes all categories of pastry such as deserts, patisserie, confections and specialty breads. The course also teaches students interpersonal skills, ethics, psychology and management skills that are required in the professional field of cooking.
The courses studied in the bachelors degree are:
Baking and patisserie
Culinary science
Business maths
Culinary skills and equipment operation
Food service and kitchen management
International cuisine
Nutrition Masters in baking and pastry art
In this program, students learn the baking techniques and methods for creating all kinds of confectionaries. Apart from spending hours in the kitchen classroom, students will also be taught managerial skills that will be essential for working in professional restaurants and kitchens. This is a two year program where some of the main courses studied are:
Baking and pastry art skill
Theories in baking
Culinary Science
Culinary deserts
Food safety
Baking and pastry arts theory
Business entrepreneurship
Kitchen management
Certificates and diplomas
Pastry Schools also offer certificates and diplomas. These short courses are designed to prepare individuals for the professional world of culinary arts. It includes teaching students different techniques for pastry making, pastry handling, decorating, packaging and marketing. Main courses studied include:
Bread and pastries
Yeast and dough fundamentals
Plated dessert fundamentals
Cooking with chocolate
Bakery production Top pastry schools
The best Pastry Schools where individuals can attain degrees in bakery and pastry are:
Institute of culinary education(NYC)
Texas culinary academy
California culinary academy(san Francisco)
The school of culinary arts-Kendall college
Career prospects for pastry chefs:
Pastry chefs can face a wide number of opportunities in the professional world of pastry art. Following are some options:
Work for a bakery
Patisserie
Restaurant
Become a food critic or writer
Teacher
Open up your own business The pay scale of pastry chefs ranges from $24,000 to $64,000 per annum.
The hotel industry, especially the culinary department, is an extremely competitive industry. To get the right break professionally or on the education front, you need the right key. Chef Salary Data is a website that provides that particular key. Comprised of salary updates, culinary school details and many more helpful input, it helps to pave your way to your career path.
*Salary Inputs: Salary is a key criteria in the culinary industry. Most chefs shift from one company to another for the sole reason of a better pay package. Chef Salary Data is a website that gives professionals a general idea of the salary patterns available in the market. It not only gives a breakdown of salary patterns of states but of metropolitan cities as well, giving the viewers a chance to make an informed decision on choosing a place of work. This proves to be an essential asset as most professionals are keener on a better package given by companies and are always looking for a better deal.
*Education/Schools: For those interested in working in the culinary industry, Chef Salary Data would prove more helpful than regular brochures. A culinary professional needs a strong base to excel in the industry. Locating a culinary school and the awareness of the education qualifications required are of top priority. Chef Salary Data helps young budding culinary professionals with a wide array of schools around the country. Feedbacks on different schools in different states and the mean annual wage of the state are also available on the website. Young professionals can thus get a clue of what salaries will be in store for them after they graduate from the university they chose.
*Career: What can one expect in the culinary field? What does it take to become a chef? What are the chef’s duties and responsibilities? These are some of the questions that creep up in the minds of young professionals over the world. Chef Salary Data is a website that quells some of these ‘demons’ that arise in young minds. With a large number of articles based on some of the questions that arise, they tell the viewers what exactly it takes to make it big in the culinary industry and what is expected of them.
There is a difference between enjoying cooking as a hobby and as a profession. This website tells you what it takes to become a professional chef; the trials and the tribunals.