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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.

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.

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.

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Home | Culinary | Culinary Schools in the United States | Tennessee Chefs Sing a Happy Tune

Tennessee Chefs Sing a Happy Tune


Tennessee's vibrant culinary culture is influenced by Nashville's thriving music business. As a result, resorts and retirement developments have spread across the state. Opportunities for restaurant and hotel managers may be best in Tennessee's larger cities, such as Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Nashville's music industry has turned the city into a heavy travel and entertainment center, with thousands of restaurants and hotels across a wide range of service levels. Memphis ranks among the 25 largest urban centers in the U.S. Those in restaurant or hotel management in Tennessee can participate in a stimulating professional atmosphere.

Wherever you go in the state, you'll might be preparing longtime culinary favorites such as country ham and barbecue, but you'll notice regional culinary differences too. In its early settlement days, the Smoky Mountains of eastern Tennessee prohibited farming and encouraged eating small game, including opossum, raccoon and rabbit. Lowland middle and western Tennessee have a history of more traditional plantation cuisine, with a French influence coming up the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers from New Orleans.

Tennessee Restaurant and Hotel Management

Tennessee employs approximately 238,220 people in food preparation and serving related occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.) The BLS reports that chefs and head cooks earned a mean salary of $34,070 in 2007. Tennessee hotel managers earned an average of $50,360 in 2007. Managers at larger properties have the opportunity to earn higher wages, as do managers with previous management experience. The industry can be very competitive, making career training and experience very helpful. Maintaining a steady stream of customers and offering them consistent, high quality service is a key to succeeding in the restaurant and hotel management industry.