The Art Institute offers culinary degrees and has several campuses in California including Sunnyvale, San Diego, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Anna and Santa Monica. The Institute's culinary arts degree program offers students a well-rounded degree that begins with the basics and progresses to hands-on experience in a kitchen. Experienced chefs teach students how to use ingredients and techniques from around the globe. The course allows students to choose a specialty such as a la carte, baking and pastry or garde manger, the most skilled chef in any kitchen. The programs vary by campus.
The California Culinary Academy is located in San Francisco and offers students a choice of two programs: Le Cordon Bleu Patisserie and Baking that includes introductory advanced courses in baking, decorating and chocolates and Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts that includes courses in basic cooking, nutrition and cost control of food and beverages. The courses offer students hands-on experience studying alongside professional chefs in a fully equipped kitchen. The academy encourages students to use their own creativity to create their unique cooking style.
The Institute of Technology had campuses in several locations including Roseville, Clovis and Modesto. The Institute offers a choice of three programs: baking and pastry specialist offering courses in the preparation and presentation of cakes, breads, tortes, tarts and other deserts; culinary arts professional, offering courses that qualify the student to work in catering, as a professional chef, restaurant manager or desert specialist; or culinary specialist, which prepares students to be food safety experts, executive chefs and nutritionists . Students receive 180 hours of hands-on experience.
The Le Cordon Bleu College has locations in Sacramento and Pasadena. Students learn alongside experienced chefs, receive hands-on training and have the opportunity to work in a student run restaurant. The college offers programs such as associate of occupational studies in culinary arts or patisserie and baking or certificates in culinary arts and in patisserie and baking. Students also take courses in hospitality and restaurant management. The college offers day and evening classes as well as financial aid and scholarship opportunities.