Massachusetts Cuisine: Inspiring Your Culinary Education

Massachusetts residents are proud of their cuisine. Boston has baked beans, central MA has apple cider, and towns along the seaboard make some of the best clam chowder in the country. With great local produce and a long history of fishing, it's no wonder Massachusetts has a rich and well-established culinary tradition. Boston, Worcester, and Amherst are great cities for young professionals to attend culinary school, begin their careers, and work with some of the best chefs in the country.

Massachusetts Career Training for Culinary Success

No one starts at the top, but a solid culinary education can help you get there. Enrolling in culinary school or a restaurant management program can serve as that all-important first step to landing head position in a commercial kitchen near you. Culinary programs expose students to a wide variety of cooking techniques, skills, and potential interests, including fundamental French cooking methods, staff management, and even menu creation based on local and/or regional dining practices. And if kitchen work isn't where your interests lie, consider taking your talents into the catering business or into the classroom.

From Culinary Education to the Next Top Chef

While you may not land your dream gig the day after graduation, a quality education and a little hard work can work wonders. Many entry-level graduates find solid positions as short-order or cafeteria cooks before making the jump to fine-dining establishments. If running your own executive-level kitchen staff is your ultimate goal, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that chefs and head cooks earned a median salary of $37,160 in 2007, with the top 10 percent earning more than $64,550.

Many well-known eating establishments originated in Massachusetts, such as Dunkin' Donuts, Friendly's, Legal Sea Foods, and Ocean Spray. Home to both small-town establishments and high-end restaurants, Massachusetts, a state where people truly take pride in their food, is the perfect place for you to go from culinary education to, perhaps, the next top chef.

Source

Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation Workers"

Featured Schools

Salter College

Enrich your life and advance your career with a liberal arts education from Salter College.

Campus Locations:

West Boylston

Programs:

Culinary Arts

Culinary Institute of America

The Culinary Institute of America can prepare you for an exciting career in foodservice.

Campus Locations:

Hyde Park

Programs:

Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Management

Branford Hall Career Institute

Get the career you want at Branford Hall Career Institute.

Campus Locations:

Springfield

Programs:

Culinary Arts

Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America

Bring Your Fire to the Plate. Le Cordon Bleu. Learn the Way.

Campus Locations:

Hollywood
Scottsdale
Saint Paul
Las Vegas
Tucker
Orlando
Chicago
Cambridge
Portland

Programs:

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland - 12 Month Certificate in Culinary Arts
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago - Associate Degree in Culinary Arts 84 weeks