Interested in a career in the culinary arts? It could be time to pursue a formal education that will prepare you for the unique opportunities and challenges of this career path. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level role as a line cook or have plans to take your career even further, starting off with a culinary arts diploma can help you build the foundational skills and knowledge that you need to enter the commercial kitchen with confidence.
What exactly does a culinary arts diploma program entail, and what can you expect between enrollment, graduation, and beyond? Dive in to learn more about culinary arts diploma programs—including the one right here at Florida Technical College (FTC).
What Is the Culinary Arts Diploma Program?
The culinary arts diploma program is designed for those wanting to acquire the basic skills and knowledge needed to pursue entry-level roles in the food service or hospitality industries.
Key Skills and Techniques Taught
Students who complete a culinary arts diploma program can learn a number of valuable skills and techniques that they can apply to their future work in the food service industry. This includes both technical and soft skills, such as:
- Knife skills
- Knowledge of how to use food service equipment
- Adherence to food safety and handling standards
- Time management skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Attention to detail
Core Components of Hands-On Training in Culinary Arts
When enrolling in a culinary arts diploma program, choosing a program that offers plenty of hands-on culinary training is critical. After all, some skills you simply cannot learn through a lecture or textbook alone.
Mastering Knife Skills and Kitchen Safety
Knife skills and general kitchen safety skills are prime examples of skills best learned in a hands-on environment. The more you practice your knife skills (such as dicing, chopping, mincing, and julienning), the better you’ll get. Over time, this experience will also help you choose the right knife or other tools for the task.
The Art of Baking and Pastry Techniques
Meanwhile, a hands-on culinary arts program provides ample opportunities to practice your baking and pastry techniques. Because baking can be such a precise practice with many variables at play, having more hands-on experience can set you up for greater success in your future work.
Hot and Cold Cuisine Techniques
Anyone aspiring to work in the food service or hospitality industries should also have an in-depth understanding of various hot and cold cuisine techniques. Specifically, knowing how to cook and handle hot foods versus cold foods in order to maximize their flavors while following safe handling and food safety guidelines is a must—and something that only comes with plenty of knowledge and experience.
Specialty Workshops and Electives
For those interested in exploring niche areas of the food service industry, it may be worth looking into a culinary arts diploma program with special electives available.
Exploring International Cuisines
A class that delves into different cuisines and types of food around the globe can be fascinating if you want to learn more about different types of cuisine (such as Chinese, French, Italian, and beyond). As part of its culinary arts diploma program, Florida Technical College is proud to offer an international cuisine class.
Advanced Plating and Presentation Skills
Presentation of food can make all the difference, so those preparing to enter the culinary arts field should have proper culinary arts training when it comes to plating and other presentation skills. This includes techniques related to cutting meat, using contrasting colors to create visual interest, and creating height on a plate.
Farm-to-Table and Sustainable Cooking Practices
These days, many diners are pursuing farm-to-table operations where they know exactly where their ingredients are coming from—as well as restaurants committed to more sustainable cooking practices, like using plant-based ingredients instead of meat. If this is something you’re interested in, then be sure to choose a program that offers classes and culinary training in these relevant topics.
The Role of Technology in Modern Culinary Education
Those preparing to enter the world of culinary arts also need to be ready to adapt to the new technologies and innovations that are transforming the field.
Utilizing Software and Apps in Culinary Training
Countless modern apps and programs can be useful in culinary arts training. In an Education Week article, some professionals suggest that culinary arts students use apps like Evernote to document their recipes or Photogene to take and edit professional-looking photos of their plated dishes.
Virtual Reality Cooking Simulations
Today, there are even applications available that can be used in conjunction with virtual reality or augmented reality systems to simulate the real-world experience of cooking in a restaurant kitchen. These apps can be a great way for students to gain some realistic experience without having to leave the classroom.
Learning From the Masters: Chef Instructors and Guest Speakers
The instructors with whom you come into contact during our culinary arts diploma program aren’t just instructors; they’re also experienced chefs who know a thing or two because they’ve actually worked in the field.
Meet Your Chef Instructors
Chef instructors can guide you through your program, drawing on their own real-world work experience to help equip you for the ins and outs of working in the field.
Guest Chef Workshops and Masterclasses
Occasionally, you may also have the opportunity to attend special workshops, demonstrations, or other events held by guest chefs from the area and beyond. These workshops and MasterClasses can be an excellent way to learn from some distinguished professionals in the field as a supplement to your formal education.
Building a Professional Culinary Portfolio
As you complete your training in culinary arts and prepare to break into this realm, it’s also a good idea to create a professional portfolio of your work that you can showcase to potential employers.
Documenting Your Creations
To build a robust portfolio, be sure to document your dishes and other culinary creations as much as possible. This means not only writing down recipes as you create them but also taking and editing professional photos of your plated dishes to display in your portfolio.
Developing Your Personal Culinary Style
Over time, you’ll move beyond mastery of basic culinary skills toward building your own sense of personal culinary style. This is what can begin to set you apart from other entry-level line cooks and other professionals who are just starting off in the field, opening up new career opportunities for yourself along the way.
The Pathway to a Culinary Career After Graduation
After you conclude your culinary arts diploma program, you can begin applying for entry-level roles in the field right away.
Career Services and Job Placement Support
At Florida Technical College, we’re happy to offer dedicated career services to our upcoming and past graduates who could use some assistance finding work in their field. With career services and job placement support, you can get help with everything from preparing a resume to practicing for an interview—so be sure to take advantage of these services as you get ready to apply for jobs.
Learn More About Our Culinary Arts Diploma Program
Obtaining your culinary arts diploma is an ideal way to gain valuable hands-on experience that you can apply directly to entry-level jobs in the food industry. At Florida Technical College, we take great pride in our culinary arts diploma program, which is designed to be completed in as little as 12 months and covers relevant topics from kitchen safety and sanitation to food service supervision and management.
Want to learn more about our culinary arts diploma program? Get in touch to request further information today. Then, start your online application to get the ball rolling on your next big career move.
These examples are intended to serve only as a general guide of possible employment opportunities. There are many factors that determine the job an individual may obtain and Florida Technical College cannot guarantee its graduates any particular job. Some positions may require license or other certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements for the particular position you desire.
Sources
https://ftccollege.edu/program/diploma/culinary-arts-diploma-english/
https://ftccollege.edu/request-information/
https://cooking.nytimes.com/guides/23-basic-knife-skills
https://www.lightspeedhq.com/blog/10-food-plating-and-presentation-tips/
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-apps-for-teaching-cooking-or-anything-else/2013/01
