If you've ever dreamed of becoming a professional chef, attending a cooking school in the Boston area might be your first step towards breaking into the restaurant world. The area has two competitive and well-respected cooking schools, where you can focus on a number of courses of study to aid you in achieving your dream.
Schools
The Boston, Massachusetts area is home to two accredited cooking schools: Le Cordon Bleu and the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts. Le Cordon Blue College of Culinary Arts is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a short distance from Boston proper. The school has been operating since 2007. The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts has been accepting students since 1974. The School offers a culinary education with a focus on European cuisine.
Programs
Le Cordon Bleu of Cambridge offers a number of courses of study for students interested in the culinary arts. These courses of study include Classic Culinary Techniques and Modern Innovations, the Patisserie and Baking Program and Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Additionally, Le Cordon Bleu offers online classes towards an Associate or Bachelor Degree in Restaurant Management. The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts offers two courses of study: Culinary and Pastry. Within each of these fields of study, you have the option of completing a 37-week-long professionals' program or a 16-week-long certificate program.
Facilities
A big consideration in choosing a culinary school that's right for you is the type of facilities the school offers. Le Cordon Bleu has classrooms with lecture and kitchen facilities that provide for an interactive educational setting. Additionally, they have kitchens fully stocked with cookware, utensils and food storage facilities. For reference, they have a full library and computer labs. The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts is likewise equipped with state-of-the-art cooking labs, designed to mimic a professional kitchen.
Coursework
At Le Cordon Bleu, depending on your interests, you can choose to concentrate your studies in a number of fields, including restaurant management, food cost control or baking and pastries. Le Cordon Bleu's program also requires an off-site internship in a Boston restaurant for your last three months in the program.The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts has a two-part professional chef program. The first half focuses on basics and techniques, while the second half focuses on European cuisine, particularly Italian and French.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition varies depending on the length and intensity of your program. As of August 2010, studies towards an Associate's Degree at Le Cordon Belu can cost upwards of $42,000, while studying for a certificate program costs $22,000. Tuition at the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts costs $26,000 for the professionals' program and $13,000 for the certificate program. Students at Le Cordon Bleu qualify for federal financial aid in the forms of loans and grants. Students at both schools qualify for private loans and grants and competitive scholarships are offered for promising students.
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