[Sca-cooks] Thinking about cooking courses/schools

[Johnna Holloway]

If you read extensively through the news reports and articles on people
that have gone to culinary school (some now with debts totaling $40k  
plus)
they end up in restaurant jobs at the bottom making minimum wage and  
have to work their way up.

Here's a recent article:

"The costs of cooking
Culinary programs can be a big investment, depending on where you go.

The Art Institute of Tucson, formerly Tucson Design College, launched  
its culinary program about three years ago. Its four-year bachelor's  
in culinary arts costs almost $89,000 in tuition and fees. Students  
pay $50,436 for the two-year associate degree, according to the  
Institute's website."

Culinary-school graduates enter an increasingly competitive work force  
with low pay, making student-loan payoffs difficult if not impossible.

Kitchen employees often earn minimum wage. Casey McQueen, 41, the  
executive chef at Jax Kitchen since February 2009, said school gave  
him a good foundation, but often the costs exceed the benefit.

"You earn maybe 50 cents more an hour, and you still have to earn your  
stripes," he said. "For me, it opened the door. It's like a college  
degree - it shows you are committed."

http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/dining/article_0a8c38e0-3836-501b-bfee-baab5f1af863.html

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Have you considered just apprenticing at the best restaurants in your  
area? Some people go that route and learn as much or more.

Johnnae

On May 9, 2010, at 6:42 PM, Michael Gunter wrote:

>
> I've been thinking of trying to find some culinary programs in my
>
> area. snipped  Any ideas on where I should go?
>
> Gunthar
>
> Never too old or experienced to learn new things.