Washington Culinary Schools

Culinary Schools in Washington

Seattle is undeniably the heart of Washington, and it is also home to the state’s best culinary institute. There you can immerse yourself in an array of cultural influences, both from the culinary perspective and the environment as well. If you do not wish to attend school in a physical manner, you do have the option of going to school online. If that is the case, you simply need to find a good online university somewhere within the country and maintain internet access so you can attend class. Everything functions the same as a traditional program, but you do it all on the computer.

There are three different forms of schooling that you can go through on your way to becoming a culinary icon. On the most simplistic level, you can get a starting position after a one year training program at a vocational institute. This program will be specialized in the area of your choice. To move up to a manager position, you will need to go through a two year program at a community college instead. The highest levels of management, like food and beverage directing, can only be gained after a four year degree program at a university. This will properly train you to run a restaurant from the business side.

Tips for Choosing a Culinary School

You can find a list of Washington culinary institutes below, but to fully reap the benefits of them, you need to pick the one that is best for you. This applies for any state you wish to gain an education from. One of the hallmarks of a fine learning academy is a knowledgeable staff. If you feel like the professors at the school are well experienced in their fields, then you’re off to a good start. Look for the internship requirements for the school and assess how the school’s job placement program may help you out. Also assess the adequacy of the school’s teaching kitchens and see if they look like places you can learn well in.

Learning the Local Food Culture

To get a feel for the food in your area, you simply have to get out and taste it. Start at the local restaurants and then if there is a food festival going on, make it a point to visit. That will give you a good idea of the kinds of foods you might be working with. Here are some that should be around every year:

• Oyster Feed – Ocosta
• Bite of Seattle Food Festival – Seattle
• Seafood Festival and Craft Show – Westport Washington
• Wild Mushroom Festival – Long Beach
• Coffee Fest Seattle – Seattle

Get Your Chef’s Whites and Get a Job

To become the chef you want to be, you have to make sure that you get an internship early on. Also try getting involved with local food associations so you have some sort of extracurricular activity under your belt. That, plus good grades, will look excellent on a resume.

You will likely earn around $35,000 or $40,000 within the first year that you work, but that should only be seen as a starting point. There are great opportunities for earning increases, but you have to make sure that you get the education to get there.

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

• The Art Institutes – Seattle
• Ashworth College – Online