5 Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Culinary School

With a passion for food and a desire to finally start a career you can get excited about, you’re ready to go to culinary school and start out on a new path…

Are you interested in creating new dishes or baking bread for your friends and family? Is your aspirational goal to become a cook in your own kitchen? To become a cook or chef, without working your way up from dishwasher, you need to get hands-on training in the kitchen. Florida Technical College offers a culinary arts diploma that teaches all the skills needed to land a lucrative and rewarding restaurant career or to be an entrepreneur and start a food business. Much of what you will learn will prepare you to become a chef, banquet cook, line cook or catering cook. With this knowledge and culinary skills, you can choose a career that you enjoy and will get excited about.

As you make the important decision to pursue the college education that will allow you to follow your dreams, make sure you ask these crucial questions before picking a culinary school:

What will I learn at culinary school?

The Culinary Arts Program at FTC offers you the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to obtain an entry-level position in the culinary field. You will gain hands-on knowledge of sauces, meats, and baked products. In addition, you will learn about kitchen safety and sanitation techniques to ensure food safety. Finally, the program will cover management and supervision in the food service industry.

This culinary program will teach you about basic culinary techniques in a real kitchen environment. You will learn basic knife cuts and prepare stocks and mother sauces. You will practice basic cooking methods and understand the theory behind each method. There are courses that focus on meat, fish and poultry fabrication, garde manger, faculty menu planning and development, restaurant service, hospitality management, international cuisine, introduction to baking and food and beverage cost control. The final course in the culinary program allows you to take a culinary externship to gain real world experience in a kitchen setting creating real food for patrons.

Is there a college campus near me?

 

There’s not much point in getting excited about a culinary program if it isn’t in a location that works for you. You need to make sure you can get to your classes because this isn’t a subject you can learn online or from a distance. FTC is conveniently located in Kissimmee, Florida.

Is the culinary school near a thriving food scene?

If you’re going to train in the food industry, you want to make sure you not only have a great school to attend, but also a nearby world-class culinary destination. Your experience with food extends into the community, and so do your job opportunities. In Central Florida, you have access to the great restaurants of Orlando, and the surrounding areas.

Will I get hands-on culinary training?

A culinary education is all about skills. This isn’t book culinary learning, and to get the training you need to land a job in a kitchen, you need to learn in a hands-on environment. You want to know that your classroom will be a modern, up-to-date kitchen, which is exactly what you get at FTC.

Who will be teaching me the culinary arts?

A program for culinary training should include school instructors who have worked in real kitchens, not just good teachers. You want to learn from the best and from the people who know, first-hand, what it’s like to work in a kitchen. They can train you to be prepared for actual, real-world culinary experiences.

Are there other culinary programs at FTC?

FTC also offers a focused culinary program in baking and pastry arts. You will learn to create, prepare, and attractively present a variety of stand-alone desserts, bread-based products, and common or special baking recipes, pastries, and sweets in this program.

How big are the class sizes?

The culinary program will have a more intimate atmosphere than a four-year college. You will be able to receive one-on-one instruction from faculty and create close relationships with classmates. Smaller class sizes allow for you to learn at your own pace and have the opportunity to clarify concerns and ask questions as needed.

Can I get financial aid?

Getting an education isn’t free, so make sure you find out if the culinary school you choose offers assistance with financial aid. A culinary education is an investment, but if you don’t have the money to spend now, you’ll never get your culinary career off the ground. Financial aid can put you in the position to get your education, so you can pursue your dream job.

 

Are career services available?

FTC provides career guidance and employability skills training to you so you can effectively demonstrate your skills to employers and secure long-term and fulfilling careers. One of the many services we offer includes job search workshops on networking, effective job search, resume writing, and mock interviews.

Does FTC offer a Spanish Language Culinary Program?

Yes. FTC offers a Spanish language culinary arts program for those students with Spanish speaking households and that choose to learn in Spanish and feel more comfortable speaking Spanish in the culinary classroom.

Want to Learn More?

The Culinary Arts Diploma Program offers you the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to obtain an entry-level position in the field. You will gain hands-on knowledge of sauces, meats, and baked products. In addition, you will learn about kitchen safety and sanitation techniques to ensure food safety. Finally, the culinary arts program will cover management and supervision in the food service industry.

Going to culinary school may be your dream, but it shouldn’t be a decision you make lightly. Ask these important questions, and any others that you have, before making your choice. To get all the information you need to decide on a culinary program, contact Florida Technical College today.