In a restaurant, your focus will be on working - not learning. The chef will have customers to serve, and your training will not be the main concern. That is why the focused approach of culinary school provides a quicker, more thorough education than restaurant work alone. The French Culinary Institute developed its unique curriculum with education experts from Columbia University's Teachers College. The curriculum is based on that of Paris-based Ferrandi, France's official chefs' training institute, and focuses on teaching students the 250 competencies that form the foundation of all Western cuisine.
Courses cover the basics, from knife skills and sauces to budgeting and ordering ingredients.
When students graduate, they are prepared to be a productive member of a kitchen or bakery. A culinary education provides graduates with the background to make them a valuable part of a kitchen staff right away. With FCI's carefully planned curriculum, students with a passion for cooking can learn the basic techniques that can make them a skilled cook in six months. Thousands of students have done it already - those who have cooked before and those with no professional experience. You will be amazed at what you will be able to do in just six months.