Category: Culinary

Charismatic and creative chefs have impacted culture since the 1880s, when France’s Antoine Carme rose to stardom as chef for Napoleon and European royalty. Less than a century later, American Julia Child recreated the world’s understanding of French Cuisine through her cookbooks and television appearances, paving the way for a slew of celebrity chefs in the 1990s and into the next century.

Celebrity chefs earned their fame by starting with culinary school degrees or cooking in their parents’ kitchens. Some supplement culinary school or formal culinary education with natural talent and magnetic personalities to earn public success. Celebrity chefs and their cooking wisdom are available everywhere including a television network devoted entirely to culinary arts and shelves of cookbooks at the local bookstore.

Julia Child: American Chef Turns French

Julia Child, born in 1912 in Pasadena, California, got her start in cooking in the late 1940s after a career in advertising and public relations. Already a graduate of Smith College, she enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu culinary school when her husband was assigned a job in Paris. She later opened a cooking school, L’Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, and published the famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking with two colleagues from Le Cordon Bleu. Child became one of American’s first celebrity chefs and enjoyed a long career of television appearances, teaching, and writing.

Rocco DiSpirito: Reality Cooking

New York’s Rocco DiSpirito is one of celebrity chefdom’s best educated stars. He enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America at age 16, where he earned a culinary school degree with honors. He later studied at the Jardin de Cygne in Paris, and spent two years studying regional French food and wine. Rocco rounded out his culinary education with a business degree from Boston University. DiSpirito is known for his fusion of French and Asian styles, and he has opened several popular restaurants. His television credits include the reality show The Restaurant and selling Rocco Cookware on QVC.

Bobby Flay: Natural Culinary Talent

Bobby Flay began his culinary career at age 17, when he was hired at Joe Allen’s restaurant in Manhattan. Allen was so impressed with Flay’s cooking abilities that he paid for Flay’s culinary education at the French Culinary Institute. After receiving his culinary school degree, Flay became famous for his unique blends of Spanish and American cuisines. Flay owns four restaurants, including Bolo in New York, and appears regularly on the Food Network and the Early Show on CBS.

Emeril Lagasse: Kickin’ Cooking up a Notch

Known for popularizing Cajun and Creole cooking, Emeril Lagasse first learned about cooking from his mother as a young boy in Massachusetts. He received his culinary school degree from Johnson and Wales University, and worked as head chef at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans before opening his own restaurants there and in other U.S. cities. He also is a famous TV personality, getting his start in 1993 on the Food Network. The word “bam” has become synonymous with his name.

Nigella Lawson: Writing Her Culinary Career

Unlike most celebrity chefs, Nigella Lawson began her culinary career as a food writer. She earned a language degree from Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford, England and got a job writing a restaurant column for Spectator. She now writes for several major culinary publications, including Gourmet and Bon Appetit, has published a number of bestselling cookbooks based on her motto, “To achieve maximum pleasure through minimum effort.” Today, she hosts several successful TV cooking shows such as Nigella Bites.

Jamie Oliver: Life-Long (and Naked) Chef

Jamie Oliver began his culinary training at age eight in his parents’ popular pub in England. He worked on his culinary education at Westminster Catering College through age sixteen, and he got his celebrity break when he appeared on a documentary about the British caf in which he was working. Television producers called him in the next morning, and he began starring in the enormously successful Naked Chef. He has since written several Naked Chef books, taken his live cooking show on the road, and opened a popular not-for-profit restaurant. Jamie’s dedication to public service and to making culinary education accessible has won him many fans.

Wolfgang Puck: Charismatic Culinary Talent

Originally from Austria, Wolfgang Puck was one of the first super chefs to establish a cooking empire. His interest in cooking was first sparked by his mother, a hotel chef. Puck received his culinary education as an apprentice in the master kitchens of top French restaurants in Europe. His charismatic personality and cooking talent led to television appearances, popular cookbooks, and wildly successful business ventures. Spago, his famous Los Angeles-based restaurant, revolutionized California pizza with its menu of gourmet toppings.

Gordon Ramsay: Villain Chef or Hero Helper?

England’s Gordon Ramsay has become one of the most notorious villains of celebrity chefdom, known for both his outstanding cooking skills and abrasive personality. His soccer career was cut short with an injury at age fifteen. He began cooking four years later, working with top chefs in London and Paris before becoming head chef at Aubergine in 1993. Ramsay’s infamy has spread to the U.S. in his reality television show Hell’s Kitchen. His culinary career continues to flourish with new restaurants and another television series where he provides on-the-spot culinary education to struggling restaurant owners.

Rachael Ray: Much More Than 30 Minutes of Fame

Culinary entrepreneur Rachel Ray began cooking at her mother’s side as a toddler. Her family owned and worked in restaurants in the northeastern United States. Ray learned about gourmet foods working at the candy counter and the fresh food department at Macy’s. She opened a prestigious gourmet food market in New York but left to pursue a culinary career in the Adirondacks. She managed restaurants and taught her “30-Minute Meals” cooking classes, which catapulted her to fame when she was featured on the local news. Ray now is the author of New York Times bestselling cookbooks, publishes her own magazine, and appears regularly on television.

Sources:

“Rocco DiSpirito,” About.com
BobbyFlay.com
“Julia Child,” Chef2Chef
“Emeril Lagasse,” Emerils.com
Every Day with Rachel Ray
“Jamie Oliver,” Food Network
“Rachel Ray,” Food Network
“Rocco DiSpirito,” Food Network
Jamie’s Kitchen
“Jeff Smith,” Seattle Times
“Bobby Flay,” Star Chefs
“Julia Child,” Star Chefs
“Nigella Lawson,” Style Network
“Celebrity Chefs,” Travel-Quest
“Celebrity Chefs,” USA Today
“Celebrity Chefs,” Wikipedia
“Bobby Flay,” Wikipedia
“Emeril Lagasse,” Wikipedia
“Gordon Ramsay,” Wikipedia
“Nigella Lawson,” Wikipedia
“Wolfgang Puck,” Wikipedia
WolfgangPuck.com

Lots of people consider cuisine as the basic thing that any person can perform easily at their home. Nowadays the demand of making future in catering field is increasing day by day and many women and even men are also taking admission in culinary field. Before taking final step the most important thing to consider is choosing the right schools. People need to keep several things in their mind when determining best culinary art schools. However it is not a simple task but one may take advice and help from their colleagues and relatives to get some ideas about these schools and career scopes.

There are numerous people who want to make their career in cooking industry and due to this reason they want to take admission in culinary schools to learn cooking art. There are very broad concepts to learn through these centers. They teach each and everything about how to cook food tasty and healthy. There are several courses offered in these centers that are useful to get job in hotels and restaurants. The duration of these courses vary from course to course. In these centers, cooking classes are taken by chefs and other professionals who are specialized in several individual fields.

Numerous gastronomic academies are available in several states of USA. These schools are offering several culinary programs like short term or long term diplomas or degree courses. By pursuing these courses from specialized cooking academies they can able to achieve their dream jobs in food industry. Even many culinary schools are also giving placement to the most deserving candidates. These centers are also providing financial assistance to students who are unable to afford these courses. Several online gastronomic schools are also organized for giving online classes and education to the people who can not attend regular culinary programs.

Some people are crazy about preparing varieties of food items and also want to join regular cookery courses but unable to do so because of job and family. They can choose online culinary schools that are varieties of courses and facilities to their candidates. They also offer online chef programs in Maryland that allow them to pursue degree and diploma in this field without attending traditional classes. These courses are also affordable and beneficial for the people to set their career in culinary field. Nowadays online education becomes most common source of education for the people who want to continue their job along with joining these type of courses.

Lots of people are choosing food industry for their career. Texas Cooking schools are the best place for these individuals to learn the actual manner of cooking food. In these cookery academies, the learners understand about several other sub fields in which they can make their career without doing cooking work. There are very vast technologies used in these schools for giving training to the candidates. Students learn the method of cooking large amount of food for hundred people at one time. In these academies students learns to hold the culinary equipments properly which is very important to be learn for cooking work.

Illustrations and sketches are part of everyday life. Everything that we hold and see in this modern time has a creative illustration or came out of a sketch. Illustrations are widely used in artwork and even in advertising. One of the uses of illustration that has been underrated is in culinary.
Culinary illustration has been around for decades when it was used to illustrate cookbooks. It started even before food photographers became the trend. Culinary illustration is an art that can be a difficult path for many artists. Since it’s a path that’s less-taken, choosing it might bring obstacles. However, it’s not something unmanageable.
In becoming a culinary illustrator, there are simple steps that you can take in order to achieve this goal.
Have the basic skills
A creative job will also need creativity and talent. Don’t apply for a position which you don’t have the knack for. You can always improve yourself by practicing and drawing different food items. This will help in improving your skills. You can look at how other culinary illustrators are depicting their work for starters. However, make sure that you create your own style in illustrating. Aside from that, you also need to be passionate about art and illustrating. Innate creativity is a must in order to sustain the job in the long haul.

Technical skills, especially using computer software, are also necessary in being a culinary illustrator. This makes projects and illustrations quicker and easier. This is an essential skill that you can’t skip because it is usually required for most types of projects.

Have that love of food
Being a culinary illustrator means you will be sketching and drawing food for every project. A love for both art and food are useful in this job. You need to enjoy and love food in order to appreciate theartworks that you are creating. This can also make illustrating easier for you. You can have your own take on a certain dish and express how you feel.
Go the distance
After starting your culinary illustrations and finding a style that suits you, don’t just stay there. Go the distance and improve your craft. You need to make your illustrations stand out from the rest. An illustrator has to go further and make his work more interesting than a photo. This can help you in keeping up with competitors and making your work unique.
Start a portfolio
Building a portfolio is a must for every creative. This ensures that you get to show your work to future clients and agents who might want to sign you up. A portfolio also acts as a brochure that will showcase your best works. Make sure that you only include your best illustrations and those that really depict your style in drawing.

You can also share your portfolio to friends by using social media. This helps in getting the word out and showing off your works to more people. This is also a form of exposure for you as an artist.
Get inspired
Continually look for inspiration for your culinary illustrations. It’s not just about food. You can take inspiration from fashion trends, paintings, and other things around you in creating your food art.

Try a variety of medium for illustrations. It can be watercolor or even hand-drawn images, as long as it’s different from the one you usually use. This will help in getting fresh ideas and being continuously inspired.

Although being a culinary illustrator is not a conventional path for many artists, it can be worthwhile and enjoyable for those who enjoy food and art together. It’s a matter of heading straight towards that path and doing your best to get a name for yourself.

The Library of Birmingham couldnt be more different from its predecessor, the Birmingham Central Library – a Brutalist concrete structure that is a labyrinth of corridors and escalators inside. The new library, which is due to be finished in the summer of 2013, is a glass building, colourful and full of light, and will certainly be a more contemporary and attractive addition to Birminghams cityscape.

It will also be much more than a library. The new building will share a reception and box office desk with the Birmingham Rep Theatre, and within the building there will be an outdoor amphitheatre, music centre, exhibition gallery and a gilded 10th-floor Shakespeare pavilion. Supporters of the library hope that it will show other libraries how to adapt in response to an ever changing, digitalised society.

The new library is just part of a cultural and architectural regeneration that has made Birmingham a thriving centre of business and innovation. The Bullring, which was completed in 2003, and the office developments in Brindley Place and other canal-side locations have helped to make Birmingham an attractive place to locate a business. This has been supported by innovations in business accommodation; in particular, there are now a number of Birmingham serviced apartments in the centre of the city. Some of these, such as the serviced apartments in the Rotunda building, make the most of Birminghams heritage by restyling old architecture with contemporary furnishings and facilities.

Birmingham is one of the UKs most populous cities, but its importance as a cultural destination is often forgotten. The city is home to a number of theatres, as well as one of the countrys oldest cinemas, the Electric Cinema, and fascinating areas such as the Custard Factory where local artists have set up individual shops and cafes. This is another facet of the city that makes it an attractive location for business visitors, and because the city centre is easy to get around on foot, the serviced apartments Birmingham has to offer are all within easy walking distance of these attractions.

Staying in a Birmingham serviced apartment also allows guests to enjoy Birminghams many and varied culinary delights. Although its famed for its balti houses and traditional pubs, Birmingham also has a number of high-end restaurants, from French bistros such as Chez Jules to the Indian fusion restaurants that line Broad Street. A number of farmers markets are held across the city each month and the area is dotted with delicatessens and food shops, from independent stores to larger shops such as Selfridges. Living in one of the serviced apartments Birmingham has to offer allows business travellers to buy food in the city centre and cook it in the privacy of what feels like their own home. They also, of course, have the option of eating out in one of the citys many restaurants whenever they choose.

Most students judge the value of an education by the impact it will have on their future. In other words, before committing to a degree program, real people first want to know what kind of jobs this degree will help them obtain. Getting your education from a culinary institute opens the doors to a wide variety of jobs, several of which are listed below.

Fast food, short order, and other basic cook positions
There are an amazing number of cook positions available in the food service industry. These jobs range from, on the low end, cooks at fast food and low cost restaurants, to the high end, which includes the chefs at more prestigious establishments. Although many of the low end chef positions are available to unskilled laborers, the higher the quality of the food prepared, and the higher the chef’s income, the greater the demand for educated cooks. A degree from a culinary institute can help you meet that demand, and help you land a higher end job.

Head chef
The position of head chef is a perfect place for someone with leadership skills, who enjoys having a little more responsibility in the workplace. As head chef, you will have more control over menu selections, preparation styles and ingredients, and other aspects of the culinary arts.

Private chef
Many people find working as a private chef to an individual family or a small institution is preferable in several different ways. First, the atmosphere a private chef encounters is typically very different than an employee in a bustling commercial kitchen. Also, private chefs tend to have an easier time selecting food choices, as they have the needs and preferences of only a few people to consider.

Menu planners and test kitchen chefs
Menus don’t make themselves up. A lot of preparation goes into planning even the simplest of menus, and many culinary businesses hire specialists to handle the job. Menu planners do exactly what you might think, which is to plan out a menu. Test kitchen chefs come up with the recipes for dishes the restaurant will offer.

Food marketing
Advertising requires yet another food specialist, in this case, a person known as a food stylist. A food stylist is responsible for preparing photogenic food, meals and desserts that will photograph well and entice customers to buy them. Other positions in food advertising may require the food marketer to design visual advertising layouts, prepare slogans and jingles, and handle other steps of the marketing process.

Management of the culinary arts
If you consider yourself to be extremely ambitious, this might be just the job for you. Look for a culinary institute that offers a bachelor’s program in management of a culinary business; such a program will combine the typical associate’s degree in the culinary arts with a curriculum that teaches upper level management skills.

Food writer
Not all jobs in the culinary arts have to do with the preparation of the food. Some culinary careers deal with other aspects of the field. A good example is a food writer. Food writers come in many varieties: some review restaurants or write about different cuisines, while others write recipe or how to books. Regardless of what facet of food a writer specializes in, an education from a culinary institute helps by verifying that the writer really knows what he or she is talking about.

These are only a few of the most common positions available to graduates of a culinary institute. A culinary degree allows career goers plenty of flexibility when entering the work force or changing careers, making a cooking school an ideal place to start from when seeking a new or improved career.