Dreaming of Culinary School: Programs and Contests to Enter

If you've ever wished that you had attended culinary school, now’s your chance to make your dreams come true!  Celebrity Chef, Rachel Ray, has teamed up with the International Culinary Center to begin a new type of competition where the winner will receive a full tuition to the school’s externship program.  The program will run from six to nine months and will include attending classes at the centers New York City campus.  Competitors must be aged 21 or over and have no prior paid cooking experience (at least not on a regular basis) and you must not have any formal culinary training from a culinary school or pastry arts program.  To enter the contest, you must video yourself cooking one of your favorite recipes and explain why you would like to attend culinary school and how it would allow you to “make a fresh start.”

In New York, high school students hoping to attend culinary school can compete in the Taste of Education at a local Italian restaurant.  Ticket sales were used to fund scholarship programs by the New York State Restaurant Association’s Western New York chapter.  Winners move onto the New York State Invitational at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, New York – competing at the state level for a chance to win scholarships and move on to the nationals cooking competition.  The National ProStart Invitational will be held in Anaheim, California April 18 – 20, and will features scholarships totaling over $1.4 million.

Iowa Western Community College also offers a competition to local high school students who’d like to attend the culinary arts program. The second annual Family and Consumer Sciences Culinary & Pastry Competition were held in March.  Competitors had 120 minutes to prep and cook their recipes in both culinary and pastry categories.  A panel then judged their offerings with the first place winner receiving a $500 scholarship to Iowa Western Community College – including their chef jacket and aprons.  Judging went so far as taste, presentation, and even technique:  competitors lost points for sawing instead of cutting as they prepared their ingredients. 

If you’re thinking of starting your own culinary career, or you have a student who’s dreaming of attending culinary school, Fiumara Apparel has all you need to present a professional appearance!  From our vast selection of quality merchandise including chef hats, aprons, coats, and shoes; you can be sure that you’ll heat up the kitchen with our stylish and affordable offerings.  We have unbeatable customer service and will work to make sure you’re completely satisfied with your products and your satisfaction is guaranteed!