Europe offers a variety of culinary schools and arts academies, with England, France and Italy being the most popular countries in which to study. There are major, mainstream commercial schools catering to hospitality and restaurant management as well culinary arts schools in which to earn a degree; for those who want to dabble in the culinary arts, there are small private culinary schools.
In France, the best place to learn the fine art of traditional French cooking is Le Cordon Bleu. With eight international campuses in Europe and Asia, chefs can earn Le Grande Diplome de Le Cordon Bleu, a highly acclaimed titled that will grant access to becoming a chef anywhere. The main campus is located in Paris.
Westminster Kingsway College, located in London, offers a career-oriented hospitality program, while Padstow's Seafood School in Padstow offers an education specializing in seafood and shell fish application in the culinary arts. The Bertinet Kitchen in Bath allows chefs to specialize in bread baking.
The Italian Institute for Advanced Culinary and Pastry Arts is one of best-known Italian culinary schools. A two- to three-month immersion program allows students to come away with deeper understanding of Italian Cuisine and cooking styles.
With ground-breaking chefs and plentiful job opportunities, Australia and New Zealand have culinary schools in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Both restaurants and hotels in the region are in need of well-trained chefs and cooks, making job opportunities plentiful upon graduation.
The Savour Chocolate and Patisserie Cooking School in Melbourne is a highly specialized pastry chef school. They dedicate themselves to getting up-and-coming bakers off the ground, while the New Zealand School of Food and Wine is one of New Zealand's largest mainstream schools.
In addition to learning about the diversity of ethnic Asian cuisine, students studying at Asian culinary schools will learn kitchen skills, cooking styles and how to purchase highly specialized ingredients. Thai culinary schools, Singapore chef training schools and Japanese cooking schools offer highly specialized skills for eager students. However, in some cases, being fluent in the native language may be a requirement.
The Oriental Thai Cooking School is a widely acclaimed training facility. Located inside the famous Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel, the school offers half-day classes that give students the opportunity to explore the area in late afternoons and evenings.
The Hattori Nutrition College, often featured on the show "Iron Chef," is one of Japan's top culinary schools. Renowned for their kitchen facilities, you must have a firm grasp on the Japanese language to attend this school.