Careers in Culinary Arts



When you think of food, you may think of your favourite dish and not necessarily of aesthetics. Except for those who think about it as a career.
A degree in Culinary Arts, for instance, is a popular course that deals with the science and the art of cooking and presenting food.


Table of contents:

  • What is culinary arts?
  • What does a degree in culinary arts offer?
  • Few essential areas covered by the course are as follows:
  • Top universities to study culinary arts
  • Culinary arts – the pandemic and the future trends

What is culinary arts?


First thing first, culinary art is much more than being a chef in a restaurant or preparing food for the customers.

Culinary art is the art of preparing, cooking, and presenting food in an aesthetically pleasing way, while keeping in mind the nutritional value of the food. A person who has mastered the field of culinary art will have knowledge of the science of food and an understanding of diet and nutrition. He or she will also have the skill to create fusions between different types of cuisines or to even be creative and come up with a unique dish. Culinary art basically deals with the science and art of cooking.

The job of a culinary arts professional is to balance the aesthetics with the nutrition – basically to make food look good, so it appeals to our senses, and also ensure that its food value is not compromised. It’s a fine art.


What does a degree in culinary arts offer?

An undergraduate course in culinary arts is for a duration of three years, and the course will includes operational, technical, and managerial skills. The main areas of study under culinary arts are food management, beverage management, table manners,  kitchen management, and hospitality. There are universities that offer postgraduate courses in culinary art with more focus on dietetics and hospital food service, arts of Italian Cuisine,  bakery and confectionery, bakery science and technology, food production, and bakery and confectionery.

Few essential areas covered by the course are as follows:


  • Culinary skill foundation
  • Planning and managing food production
  • Baking and patisserie
  • The developing manager and human resources management
  • Contemporary hospitality and marketing
  • Food and wine harmony
  • Personality Development
  • Product development
  • Food and beverage operations management
  • Food and sociology & anthropology
  • Brand management
  • Food entrepreneurship and small business projects
  • Strategic management
  • Food safety management
  • Global Cuisine and gastronomy
  • Menu planning and product development
  • Creative patisserie
  • Customer service
  • Rooms divisions operations management
  • Food styling and presentation and research methodology

A look at the skills required to master culinary arts


  • Creativity
  • Time Management
  • Knowledge of food ingredients
  • Discipline
  • Organisation
  • Leadership Skills
  • Dedication
  • Commitment
  • Attention to detail

Top universities to study culinary arts


Let us now look at the top universities globally to study culinary arts

Serial No. University Country
1 Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts United States
2 Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland
3 Culinary Institute of America United States
4 Le Cordon Bleu Paris,
France
5 Institute of Culinary Education United States
6 Apicius Italy
7 Westminster Kingsway College London, UK
8 Kendall College, School of Culinary Arts United States
9 BHMS Lucerne, Switzerland
10 New England Culinary Institute Montpelier
United States

Here's a list of undergraduate courses offered in culinary arts by various universities

  • Bachelors in Hospitality Management – Culinary Specialisation
  • Bvoc in Bakery and Cookery
  • Diploma in Food And Beverage Service
  • BS c in Culinary Arts with Specialisation in Bakery & Pastry Art Management
  • B.A. in Culinary Arts
  • Bachelor of Catering Technology and Culinary Arts
  • Bvoc in Culinary Operations
  • BSc in Culinary Science
  • Craftsmanship Course in Cookery
  • BHM with Culinary Arts
  • B.A. in International Culinary Arts

What do culinary arts graduates do?


According to the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics, between 2020 to 2030, the employment of chefs and head cooks is expected to have a growth of 25 per cent in the U.S., and this is much faster than the average for all occupations. The data also predicts that there will be around 18,800 openings for chefs and head cooks in these years. The median annual pay of a head cook and chef was 53,380$ for the year 2020. The highest 10 per cent of the chefs and head cooks have earned close to 90,790$.

Graduates in culinary arts work in a wide range of profiles within and also outside the food industry.

Here’s a closer look at the career options available after graduating in culinary arts:

  • Chef
  • Banquet Chef
  • Food Critic
  • Food Stylist
  • Lecturing And Consulting
  • Nutritionists
  • Catering Supervisor
  • Food Scientist
  • Catering  Manager
  • Food Production Manager
  • Catering Officer

Culinary arts - the pandemic and the future trends


As we know, the food and hospitality industry was one of the most severely affected industries during the pandemic. Job openings were significantly fewer, and the existing jobs were also put on hold due to the pandemic. Now when we slowly get past the challenging days of the pandemic, things are looking up for the food and hospitality industry as well. The data by the U.S. Bureau of labor statistics reveals that the food industry is seeing a revival, and more jobs are being created in this sector, with online food ordering being the new trend.


Culinary Arts Upcoming Trends and Topics :


  • Fermented beverages and teas
  • Organics
  • Flexitarian
  • Crafted condiments
  • Blended meals
  • Sustainable seafood
  • Open-hearth cooking
  • Nutrition hacking and immune health
  • Terroir transcends wine
  • Raw food
  • Green and healthy food
  • Ethnic food
  • Macrobiotics
  • Collagen-spiked products
  • Beverage trends
  • Cell-cultured meats
  • Upcycled Cuisine
  • Instinctive eating
  • Plant-based alternatives
  • Fermented foods

Like every other course, even culinary arts has now completely gone online. There are universities that have built online programs to help the students get the right feel of cooking. Even though the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the food industry, culinary training has been in high demand at present. So, if food, cooking and presenting food excites you, then you may want to consider a career in culinary arts, which is considered the future of the food and hospitality industry and this particular course opens up a platter of opportunities.

Check out also why we should choose careers based on interests.

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