My mother taught all of my brothers and me how to cook. We had to switch off each night, either cooking or washing dishes. My dad cooked, too, so we had a real love of food at home. You generally spend 10 years getting a classical French foundation in cooking.
All upscale restaurants utilize French techniques.
You work with different chefs at different stations in the kitchen. You study food combinations, spice combinations, food and wine combinations. Find a chef whose cooking style you like and approach him or her. You often have to work for a few months for free. It's so the chef can see if you can cut it in the kitchen.