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[Firebrand Gary]

This message was self-deleted by its author (Firebrand Gary) on Tue Feb 2, 2016, 12:03 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Now that you're here, DO NOT MISS sinkingfeeling's cakes!

You'll need to scroll down a bit but it's worth it. There are two to my knowledge.

[Firebrand Gary]

13. I will check into it. STAT. hahaha

I have been reading and posting on DU for years, but I almost want to ask myself, where have I been? lol

[elleng]

2. Wish I could help beyond Bonne Chance!

[Firebrand Gary]

14. You already have!

Just by showing your interest and wishing good luck! Thank you my friend!

[elleng]

18. Thanks!

[grasswire]

3. re: schools, keep in mind that some are diploma factories, apparently.....

.....and have graduated students with the promise of a career ahead but could not deliver on the promise. Some recent litigation comes to mind.

[Firebrand Gary]

15. It seems like many of them are.

I am really looking for the whole package, including the city and opportunity to work in a great kitchen afterwards. So strongly leaning towards Paris!

[elleng]

4. Just remembered this.

http://www.jwu.edu/

Check it out?

[The empressof all]

5. thats where i would go if i were 40 years younger

Restaurant life is tough though. Nights, weekends, holidays and long hours in hot small confined areas. You need to be in great shape to live it. I'm not sure I would enjoy it. I like my own small home kitchen where I can cook what I please whenever I want

[Firebrand Gary]

16. That's totally fine with me.

I am still well under 40, I have the time. I tend to be a pretty ambitious person in general, so if I am successful, I work hard enough maybe one day I will get to a point where I do not have to work nights, weekends and holidays in my place.

[Firebrand Gary]

8. Thank you for that.

Looking around a few different places, I saw that schools name pop up in a few different places, but I did not follow up. I will now. Thanks elleng

[elleng]

9. You're welcome, Gary.

I became concerned reading posters' and your responses about need for experience, and this popped into my head. Seems like it might give you the experience you seem to want and need.

[Warpy]

6. Take six months to work in a kitchen

It doesn't matter much what you do, you need to experience the heat, the stress, getting slammed by more patrons than usual, and the amount of backbreaking work it is.

If it gets into your blood and you love it, then consider a high priced culinary school.

However, you need to know what you're getting into.

[Firebrand Gary]

7. That's what I was thinking too.

I love the high tempo pace. I worked in a crazy busy bar for 6 years and I did pretty well. The kind of place where for 6 hours people are screaming at you for a beer, a shot, blah, blah.

I am all for the hard work, just concerned about the school.

[Callalily]

10. Hope this doesn't confuse

you all the more but have you considered NECI (New England Culinary Institute)? http://www.neci.edu/

Classes are very hands-on and internships are available which helps build a resume.

Just a thought.

[Firebrand Gary]

17. I have not heard about NCI

Thanks for the post! The research into this is substantial, which is a great thing! I am going to select carefully as I have waited years to come to this point.

[TreasonousBastard]

11. Do you have a community college with...

culinary courses near you?

I looked at a couple on your short list and saw the price (10 grand of which I'm sure is just the butter used in the pastry course...) and then found our local cc has several shorter pastry courses for a few hundred bucks each. The full menu for a foodie AAS degree is only a few thou, with training and job placement pretty good.

Considering the wages in the restaurant business, I just don't see the payback in the expensive places. I also don't see how much more you get from them vs. the cc and ojt in a decent restaurant.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. Hey Gary, if you make a decision and follow through

Please blog about it here! I know many of us would find it fascinating. I for one, if I ever won the lottery, would go to Cordon
Blu or the S.F, culinary institute just to become a really good cook.


i couldn't work in a restaurant though, way too claustrophobic for that.

[Firebrand Gary]

19. That is a GREAT idea, I will totally do that!

It's so funny, my other half is all for this idea......I wonder why? LOL

[nycfoodlover]

20. Search for School

Hi Gary, I'm a graduate of The International Culinary Center formerly The French Culinary Institute in NYC. I looked at several other school and decided on The FCI because of their incredible reputation, great instructors and the location of the school. You can't beat being in NYC. The education I received in the kitchens was solid and I really took advantage of their career services department. They helped me land an internship while in school and really encouraged me to start getting involved with the industry as a student. This was really helpful to me because I'm also a career changer and was really nervous about getting a job in the field.
I definitely suggest visiting all of the schools on your list and if you can sit in on a class to get a feel for the school, the students there and the instructors.

[ryanm7277]

21. So....

Did you make a decision? I am doing the same thing. I am going to go to Paris to the Ritz cooking school.

[PatSeg]

23. Welcome to DU!

[handmade34]

22. a little thought...

my son wanted to go to culinary school... checked into NECI (good school close to home), Johnson and Wales, Cornell, C.I.A. and a few others. He chose C.I.A. and loved it for the 1st year... excellent school, loved the geographical areas (on the Hudson), learned a lot... but he got homesick and missed running (he did form the 1st X-country team that C.I.A. ever had!)... and left to finish his college career at UVM. He just graduated with a degree in Philosophy and is headed out to Portalnd Oregon to try to get into the restaurant business there (maybe find a culinary school there to get back into it) good luck!

http://www.ciachef.edu/admissions/athletics/crosscountry/