is culinary school worth going to if cooking is more

[Godzuki]

a serious hobby than profession? :confusedshrug:

ive gotten into cooking top chef DIY cuisines lately and really want to take it to the next level.

i dont ever plan to work at a restaurant but want to improve my craft. whats the best way to do it :confusedshrug:

[Nick Young]

Why not just keep practicing recipes on your own? There's nothing you can learn in culinary school that you can't learn from youtube cooking tutorials.

[nathanjizzle]

anything is a profession if people are willing to pay you for it. creativity and execution is what separates home cooks from master chefs.

[Godzuki]

Why not just keep practicing recipes on your own? There's nothing you can learn in culinary school that you can't learn from youtube cooking tutorials.

thats what i wonder tho...

like at least with cooking school u know youre formally trained.

[KevinNYC]

thats what i wonder tho...

like at least with cooking school u know youre formally trained.
Cooking schools sometimes have programs for folks who don't want to be formal chefs.

http://recreational.ice.edu/Home/CookingClasses

[Nick Young]

thats what i wonder tho...

like at least with cooking school u know youre formally trained.
You will be around other people who share your passion and you will have a teacher calling you out if you don't do the homework or make some shit food.


if you're self motivated, you can learn this shit on youtube if you really wanted to. Cooking school would probably be more fun for most people IMO

[BigNBAfan]

cooking school is for morons who failed school and are too big of a pansy or fat as fck to join the army.

[gigantes]

Why not just keep practicing recipes on your own? There's nothing you can learn in culinary school that you can't learn from youtube cooking tutorials.
:facepalm

the reality is that there's a lot of chemistry and theory in cooking that you're generally NOT going to get noodling around with recipes.

opie, you can probably find some decent free courses if you look around. looks like MIT used to have them (maybe still does):
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-s16-advanced-kitchen-chemistry-spring-2002/

as i understand it, there is big demand for kitchen workers... altho at the same time it's tough, sweaty work. in fact, the place next door specialises in training convicts in the culinary arts, then placing them in positions around the country. i think that speaks to the demand right there.

[bdreason]

Culinary school isn't cheap. Legit schools start at around 25k a year.

[Nick Young]

:facepalm

the reality is that there's a lot of chemistry and theory in cooking that you're generally NOT going to get noodling around with recipes.

opie, you can probably find some decent free courses if you look around. looks like MIT used to have them (maybe still does):
http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-s16-advanced-kitchen-chemistry-spring-2002/

as i understand it, there is big demand for kitchen workers... altho at the same time it's tough, sweaty work. in fact, the place next door specialises in training convicts the culinary arts, then placing them in positions around the country.
There is no reason you can't learn this by watching youtube tutorials and reading culinary theory books on your own. Yes, they do have high-end culinary tutorials online for free that are quality, if you want them.

The question is, are you self motivated enough to, without having peer pressure from fellow students and a tutor giving you assignments?

[gigantes]

There is no reason you can't learn this by watching youtube tutorials and reading culinary theory books on your own. Yes, they do have high-end culinary tutorials online for free that are quality, if you want them.

The question is, are you self motivated enough to, without having peer pressure from fellow students and a tutor giving you assignments?
i'm not really in a position to comment, but i'm sure the more professional the experience, the more efficient and comprehensive it's going to be. i almost wish i was an ex-con so i could train in the kitchen next door... it's bound to be an incredible experience.

i definitely agree that a group experience and assignments would be a lot more motivating. presumably the MIT course includes assignments, and maybe OP could find a buddy or some people online to take the course with. a culinary webforums might be a good place. a thread per assigned dish could be a great way to compare notes.

[KevinNYC]

One thing that is different from cooking school to learning to cook at home is usually you are cooking a meal you are going to eat right away. And whether you do it right or not, you stop cooking.

When you learn to cook eggs in cooking school, on egg day, they bring out 5 dozens eggs and you basically scramble eggs until you get it right, then you move on the frying eggs, then you do omelets. So it's just way, way more concentrated.

How long would it take you at home to make 60 eggs at home.



When I dated a girl who was in cooking school she used to bring home some great stuff. Bourbon ice cream was a good one. I also remember meeting her at a concert in a bar with a group of friends and she took out two quart containers of the sausages she had made that day.