Oregon Culinary Schools

Culinary Schools in Oregon

Portland is the home for culinary education in Oregon. There are other opportunities within the state, but if you want to go to a top culinary academy, that’s the place to be. There is also the option to go to school online, which is becoming increasingly popular as the years pass. If that suits you, then you can essentially go to any university across the nation that offers an online degree program. All you need is access to the internet.

There are a few different ways to go about culinary training. One way would be to attend a four year university where you can be completely prepared to run a restaurant in its entirety. If that is a bit too much work for you or if it is more than what you wanted to do, you might want to try to get a two year degree from a community college. That will prepare you to work as a manager or supervisor. For basic starting positions, all you need to do is attend a one year program at a vocational school.

Tips for Choosing a Culinary School

When looking into your culinary education options, you should see if there are any required internships at the school of your choice. If so, you may be going to a proper institute. Other things to look at might be the experience level of the professors of the university or the equipment used in the student kitchens. Many universities also offer completely student run restaurants, so finding a place to study with such an opportunity might help you get direct experience in the field. It will also look good on your resume.

Learning the Local Food Culture

You should strongly consider getting acclimated with the food in your area. That means you need to get yourself out there and start tasting foods from local restaurants and food festivals. Put yourself in the shoes of the consumer and try to pick up on what people like. The aforementioned festivals can be observed all year long, so you’re sure to come across a few during your university time. Here are some you might want to attend:

• Newport Seafood and Wine Festival – Newport
• CHART Hospitality Training Conference – Portland
• Northwest Foodservice Show – Portland
• Indie Wine Festival – Portland
• Zin and BBQ – Portland

Get Your Chef’s Whites and Get a Job

To get into the restaurant business, you might want to start with an internship. You could find some great opportunities through your local food associations, and being a member of those organizations will definitely look good on your resume. Maintain a solid grade point average and try to be as active in the food community as possible. There should be a job waiting for you.

In terms of what you can make in this field, the answers vary based on the place that you work and what position you hold exactly. Assuming you fit within the national average, you might see a starting pay of $30,000 or more. This number will increase quickly as you progress up the line. Upper level positions pay $70,000+ on an annual basis, just for a reference.

Oregon Technical Colleges Offering Culinary and Pastry Arts, Restaurant Management, and/or Hospitality Degrees

• Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America – Portland
• Oregon Culinary Institute – Portland
• The Art Institutes – Portland
• Ashworth College – Online