Foodies and chefs-to-be find numerous opportunities to hone their craft in Arkansas. With courses ranging from simple one-day courses to MBA degrees, skilled chefs teach everything from the basics to restaurant management. While the widest array of training awaits in Little Rock, community colleges and training centers around the state offer opportunities for anyone. With a little know-how, you can enrich your healthy lifestyle with body- and soul- enriching treats.
Home Cooks Near Little Rock
If you're seeking new recipes for the family table or to impress your guests, start by taking one-day courses in Little Rock. The River Market Cooking Club offers inexpensive Saturday morning classes. KitchenCo. provides evening classes on everything from pizza to fried chicken. Each class at both locations lasts only a couple of hours. For longer workshops on specific foods, take courses through the Arkansas Extended Learning Center.
Home Cooks Outside Little Rock
Outside Little Rock, you'll find a few stand-alone schools such as the School of Southern BBQ in De Witt. Take or audit one of the culinary classes offered at many community and technical colleges throughout the state, such as Ozarka College in Melbourne or Arkansas Career Training Institute in Hot Springs. A number of vocational colleges offer such training, and they will provide the most opportunities outside Little Rock.
For the Professional
If you dream of running a restaurant or becoming a professional chef, opportunities abound in Arkansas. Community and technical colleges offer technical degrees, certificates and BA degrees for station cooks, kitchen assistants and chefs. Check out Arkansas Tech University, Ozarka College, Arkansas State University or your local community college. If you're ambitious, earn an MBA in hospitality and tourism management through Strayer University.
What You'll Learn
What you'll learn varies from program to program. In a one-day class, you'll learn one entrée, dessert or skill such as pasta cooking. Workshops dig deeper into specifics such as seafood preparation and soup making. However, at the colleges and universities, classes vary by major. They include lessons in basic kitchen skills, kitchen hygiene and sanitation, cooking methods and techniques, as well as restaurant management.
Choosing a School
When selecting a school, determine exactly what training you need. For home cooks, as yourself which dishes or techniques you want to learn, whether the class time fits into your schedule and whether you need beginner- or intermediate-level courses. Future professional chefs should consider whether the schools teach the latest techniques, offer hands-on training under a chef's guidance in a realistic environment and have strong connections in the culinary community.
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