Missouri Cooking Schools

Le Cordon Bleu is one of the highest regarded culinary schools in in the world and to the surprise of many, one of its 26 international schools in 15 countries is located just outside of St. Louis, in St. Peters, Mo. Also highly regarded is the L'Ecole Culinaire, practically neighbors of Le Cordon Bleu, in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton. Those are the only two schools designated solely to the art of learning the nuances of fine cooking. But eight other schools offer curricula dedicated to culinary arts and chef training programs. Another 16 schools, scattered throughout the state of Missouri, offer training in food and nutrition studies, food science and technology, hospitality management, and food and beverage restaurant management.

Le Cordon Bleu

Arguably the most recognized name in culinary arts training along with the Culinary Institute of America, or CIA, and a number of other highly regarded schools, Le Cordon Bleu trains 18,000 students worldwide every year. The educational programs are considered among the most prestigious blend of traditional European, nouveau, fusion, Asian and American cuisine styles in the industry. Students must complete what the school calls as "externship" to complete and receive a degree from the school. The St. Louis campus, however, does not offer a Bachelor of Arts degree as it does at many of its other institutions. Instead, it offers a certificate of completion or graduation.

L'Ecole Culinaire

The L'Ecole Culinaire offers programs in the culinary arts, culinary essentials, culinary management that include fundamentals of cookery, fundamentals of baking, baking and pastry development, financial and facilities management and business and professional presentations. The program lasts 90 weeks, consisting of 130 credit hours of cookery theory and associated lab work and 14 quarter credit hours of applied general education for the culinary arts. Like Le Cordon Bleu, it also requires completion of an externship for successful completion of the program. The school offers Associate of Occupational Studies Degrees in Culinary Arts and Culinary Management, and a Diploma in Culinary Essentials.

Ozarks Technical Community College

The Ozarks Technical Community College's culinary arts program is among the most popular academic/technical programs at the college. Based in Springfield, Mo., the two-year program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation and has more than 180 students enrolled in culinary arts and hospitality management. Included in culinary instruction are a baking certificate for those who want to study cake making and decorating, European pastry making along with yeast and quick-bread making. There are more than 400 restaurants in the area, further bolstering enrollment at the school to fill the numerous local job opportunities. About 70 percent of the students in the program are majoring in both baking and culinary skills, giving them greater flexibility when they complete their training and enter the workforce. The student-operated Scallions restaurant opens one day a week on-campus, offering students hands-on restaurant in-house experience.

Forest Park Community College

Based in St. Louis, the Forest Park Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science Degree and Certificates of Proficiency in Hospitality Studies, which include specialties in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts and hotel and restaurant management. The culinary arts program requires 69-credit hours of food service preparation and restaurant management training.

Other Culinary Arts Schools

The other culinary arts school offerings across the state include programs at the Lake Career and Technical Center, Camdenton, Mo.; Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City, Mo.; East Central College, Union, Mo., and Waynesville Technical Academy, Waynesville, Mo.