The Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in New York City offers a professional chef's training program in addition to public classes for personal enrichment. The professional program is 619 hours for full-time or part-time students and is licensed and accredited. The plant-based curriculum also includes instruction for preparing organic chicken and eggs, as well as seafood. Classes teach students how to bake with whole grains and convert traditional recipes by substituting natural and vegan ingredients. Call (212) 645-5170, ext. 109 or 101, or email [email protected] for details.
Located in Princeton, New Jersey, the Natural Kitchen Cooking School offers an 8-month Natural Chef's Training Program that covers all aspects of natural, vegetarian and whole foods cooking to promote health and wellness. The curriculum includes food history, kitchen cookware and utensils, regional cuisine, raw foods, wheat- and gluten-free cooking, food presentation and seasonal cooking. Call (866)306-6527 or email [email protected] for more information.
The Natural Epicurean, located in Austin, Texas, offers an 800-hour professional program that includes comprehensive culinary training in macrobiotic, vegan and vegetarian cooking and nutrition. Students will learn all facets of natural cooking, from cutting and cooking techniques to seasonal cooking. Courses in food energetics, cooking for healing diets and home remedies are also included. To request a culinary program packet, call (512) 657-9191 or email [email protected].
With locations in Berkeley, Penngrove and Santa Cruz, California, as well as Boulder, Colorado, Bauman College offers a 450-hour Natural Chef Training Program. Courses focus on mastering the basics of culinary arts with an emphasis on nutritional and therapeutic cooking, including creating meal plans for people with allergies, cancer, diabetes, digestive disorders, heart disease and other chronic illnesses. Call (800) 987-7530 or visit www.baumancollege.org to request a catalog.
Plan a vacation with an education in natural Italian cooking. While staying in a 19th-century Tuscan villa on a 340-acre farm, you will learn how to prepare fresh pastas, salads, risotto and desserts. Four of the cooking courses are vegetarian, but all can be vegetarian-friendly. For details, call (347) 417-5907 (standard, not international, rates apply), email [email protected] or visit www.organictuscany.org.