Columbia Basin College, located about 6 miles north in Pasco, offers a one-year certificate program in Culinary and Food Services. It is intended to give students access to entry-level positions in the food service industry, or to prepare students for further culinary education. Students will take Culinary/Food Services I, where they will work in teams to get hands-on experience in the restaurant and catering business. In Culinary/Food Services II and III, students gain experience in management and sanitation. Students must complete these three courses, which consist of a total of 24 credits, to earn this certificate.
The Blue Ribbon Cooking School in Seattle, about three hours from Kennewick, offers courses for recreation only. In intensive instructional courses, students mirror the instructor as he prepares a dish. In cooking party format courses, students are given individual instruction. After each class session, students eat what they have created and receive a printed copy of each recipe they have covered in the classroom. Prospective students can register for classes online. Each course ranges in prices from about $80 to $125 as of 2011.
Walla Walla Community College offers its Culinary Arts program, in which students can earn an associate degree in the Culinary Arts after two years of study, or a certificate for one year of study. Walla Walla is located about an hour from Kennewick. The certificate requires about 70 credits, depending on previous completed coursework, and an associate degree requires about 110 credits.
Coursework is designed to give students hands-on experience in the food industry. Students also have the option to participate in internships. Walla Walla Community College's culinary arts program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation. Prospective students are required to submit a 500-word essay to the program director regarding their interest in the program.
Someone's in the Kitchen in Walla Walla, located about an hour from Kennewick, offers individual cooking classes. Someone's in the Kitchen offers a few cooking courses each month. Courses are generally priced between $45 and $60 per session as of 2011. Past sessions have included demonstrations on making authentic Mexican food, traditional Thai food, creating healthy food during the holiday season and the basics of making bread. The school is also a restaurant, offering brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Lunch is served Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.