Tuesday, November 19, 2013

A Guide To The Subjects And Courses Culinary Schools Offer

By Girish Jaju


If you are planning to pursue a career in the food service industry, getting information about the subjects and courses which are offered by culinary arts schools is important, as doing so can help you in having a better idea about the kind of training and education that you would be receiving after getting accepted in the school you have chosen later on. To learn more about the different subjects and courses that are offered by culinary schools today, read on.

Principles of Cooking: This course teaches the basic concepts of cooking and food preparation. Some of the topics that it covers include: food preparation and cooking terminology; the identification of basic culinary ingredients; fundamental cooking methods and techniques; recipe structure; knife skills; kitchen organization; and the identification and proper use of tools and equipment used in the kitchen.

Nutrition: This course offers an introduction to the basic elements of nutrition, covering topics such as nutritional menu planning, nutrition trends and food fads, and healthy cooking techniques.

Baking and Pastry Arts: This core subject concentrates on the fundamentals of preparing and making baked goods, pastries, and desserts. Some of the topics that it teaches include: scaling and measurement techniques; cake batter methods; mixing techniques; cake and pastry decorating; dessert plating and presentation; and the proper use and maintenance of the various tools and equipment used for baking and making pastries.

Food Sanitation and Safety: A core subject of most culinary arts programs, it covers an array of topics from the safe and proper storage, handling, presentation, preparation, and disposal of various food items to the prevention of food-borne illnesses. Some of the other topics that it teaches include food bacteriology, sanitation principles, accident prevention, OSHA and MSDS guidelines, and the proper maintenance of equipment used in cooking and food preparation.

Hospitality Marketing: A course that is most often offered by culinary schools which have degree programs in culinary arts, it teaches the basic marketing concepts and principles which can be applied in the food and beverage industry. It teaches several topics from branding and concept development to marketing trends and strategies to public relations and advertising.




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