Vegetarian Culinary Schools: Top 3 Things To Look For

How to pick the right Vegetarian Culinary School….

Going to a vegetarian culinary school is a great alternative to going to a traditional culinary school especially when they want to provide healthier and more ecologically friendly foods. These provide the same job opportunities as going through a traditional culinary school without all the guilt of killing loving creatures. These schools often cost much less than other schools as well. What should you look for though in vegetarian culinary school?

Step 1

Always consider the accreditation first and foremost. The accreditation of a school may stop you from getting financial aid and provide you with an in ability to find a job later on. If they don’t list this on their website, then ask, and don’t go off their word about job placement.

Step 2

Job placement claims are a good way in a bad economy to sucker people into degrees that are worthless. They may say something along the lines of , ” We place over 80 percent of our students in a career in the restaurant industry.” Now that sounds great at first before you realize that this includes dish washers, bussers, cashiers, and janitors. Look up the school on Facebook or Myspace and find some prior graduates. They will tell you exactly where they are working and how easy it is to find a job in the field. After you complete this step check out the instructors.

Step 3

These are the people who are teaching you how to get into this niche industry. You should take the time and find out about them. Have they ever owned a restaurant , have they ever worked for a restaurant that’s still in business, and why might have led them to teaching. All of these questions will provide you with who you are learning from and give you a good idea of the quality of education you will be receiving.

If you remember these simple tips then you will be set to pick the perfect vegetarian culinary school. Remember your instincts in this search, if it doesn’t feel right to you then don’t do it. There is no reason why you can’t achieve your goal as a vegetarian chef as long as you remember these steps.

Here is a list of 4 of the most renown Vegetarian Culinary Schools:

Natural Gourmet Institute
The Natural Gourmet Institute offers both part-time and full-time chef’s training programs that focus mostly on plant-based cooking

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with some instruction on preparing organic chicken, eggs, and seafood dishes. The 619-hour program includes coursework in kitchen equipment use, natural ingredients, whole grain baking, culinary science, fundamentals of nutrition, and plenty more. Located in Manhattan, the school is set in a 4,800-square-foot space complete and has teaching and professional kitchens that are equipped with quality restaurant equipment.

Natural Gourmet Institute
48 W. 21st St.
New York, NY 10010
212-645-5170
www.naturalgourmetinstitute.com

The School of Natural Cookery
Plant based cooking and beyond, in a unique curriculum where students learn to cook without recipes. We call it the Language of Cooking ™, Cook intuitively with whatever ingredients are at hand, as a professional or for yourself.Foundation course, 16 weeks, diploma; Personal chef, 4 week, certificate; Teacher training, 11 week, certificate.

P.O. Box 19466
Boulder, CO 80308
303-444-8068
www.naturalcookery.com

The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts
The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts offers one of the only plant-based, professional training chef training programs in the country. We train our chefs in the theory and practice of meal planning within the following disciplines: Macrobiotic, Vegetarian, Vegan, Ayurvedic, Raw & Living Foods. 800 hour course, certificate.

4709 Sagebrush Trail
Austin, TX 78745
512-476-2276
www.naturalepicurean.com

The Natural Kitchen Cooking School
The Natural Kitchen Cooking School offers an 8-month Natural Chef Training Program, as well as personal chef service, and corporate and in-home cooking parties.Our unique Natural Chef Training Program provides hands-on culinary experience combined with innovative nutritional approaches to food preparation. The program is designed to show how food can support a radiant level of health and wellness. Our curriculum empowers students with the skills and knowledge for both personal and professional enrichment.

P.O. Box 373
Princeton, NJ 08542
646-283-9470
www.naturalkitchenschool.com