Culinary Program

Find culinary inspiration and helpful career information on topics such as cooking with chocolate, French and Greek cuisine, the life of a Chef, and what to expect in culinary school.

Does your sweet tooth lead you straight to your oven? Read how to avoid the pitfalls of cheese cake, bake creative cookies, use fresh fruits in baking, and more.

Catering and Restaurant Management

If you've ever prepared a Thanksgiving dinner, you know that cooking for a group takes planning and skill. Learn more about the art of catering and restaurant management, including specialized catering such as chocolates or high tea and how to prepare for a restaurant career.

Culinary Schools in the United States

With culinary schools in all 50 states and additional culinary education available online, you don't need to relocate unless you want to. Each state has its own special mixture of culture, cuisine, and locally grown agriculture that inspires the chefs and students who work and live there. If you're passionate about Maine lobster dishes, California cuisine, or any dish or state in between, you'll find a culinary school that is where you are or where you'd like to be.

Home | Culinary | Culinary Schools in the United States | North Dakota's Economic Profile Draws Culinary Students

North Dakota's Economic Profile Draws Culinary Students

North Dakota has the 20th lowest cost of living in the country, at about 10 percent less than the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in North Dakota was $37,160, as of May, 2007. At the same time, the top 10 percent of those employed as North Dakota chefs earned $64,550.

Trained Chefs Look to North Dakota's Large Cities

Cooking school graduates in ND may find the best career opportunities in larger cities such as Fargo and Bismarck. Salary.com reports that executive chefs working in North Dakota may earn anywhere from $42,092 to $94,107 annually. Kitchen supervisors earn between $24,304 and $45,249, and catering directors earn between $26,647 and $80,712 per year.

No culinary arts program can guarantee a particular career or salary, and most trained chefs and caterers should expect to work up through the ranks of a restaurant before reaching a managerial position. However, in the highly competitive culinary world, formal cooking school training is often regarded well by hiring managers.

North Dakota Casinos Provide Work Opportunities

North Dakota's casinos offer dining opportunities to patrons, and career options in cooking, catering, and hotel and restaurant management. Prairie Nights Casino offers fine dining and a 96-room lodge near Mandan, ND. Near Fargo, Dakota Magic Casino boasts a hotel, buffet, and steakhouse in addition to its 700 slot machines. For culinary and hotel workers willing to make the commute, casinos in North Dakota may offer an attractive career.