Culinary Careers, No Cooking Involved

Do you dream of a career in the culinary arts, but fear you wouldn't be able to handle the heat in the kitchen? Sweating it out as a chef isn't the only route to career success in the food world. You could opt to sip wine for a living instead.

"A culinary arts career doesn't have to be limited to cooking," says Mary Frances of CookingSchools.com, a Web site that helps consumers find culinary educational institutions. "The hospitality and restaurant industries also need sommeliers, managers, marketers and event planners. You can have a satisfying career in the culinary world even if you don't know how to fry an egg!"

Thousands of schools across the country offer two- and four-year degree programs to help you land a food, hospitality or restaurant industry job without ever having to step into a kitchen. Many top-rated schools offer distance learning, part-time programs, and weekend and night classes. "This flexibility accommodates not only young students starting out in their career paths, but established professionals who may be seeking an exciting career change," Frances says.

Some alternative culinary careers include:

* Sommelier - An essential player in the success of most fine dining establishments, the sommelier (pronounced saw-muh-lyey) chooses the wines that will be offered on the establishment's wine list. In addition, he or she may be called on to counsel patrons on wine and meal pairings, and provide information and insight on chosen wines. A love of fine wine, a keen palate and an ongoing education are all vital to the sommelier's success.

* Restaurant manager - While restaurant managers play a role in setting an establishment's culinary tone, they also oversee day-to-day operations, including staff training, customer service, new product development, marketing and promotions. "Restaurant manager is a great job for anyone who loves food and already has managerial experience," says Frances. "The basic managerial skills you've learned in other industries can be applied in the restaurant world."

* Pastry chef - Sure they spend their time in the kitchens around hot ovens, but pastry chefs still have a sweet job. Not only are they responsible for the preparation of all desserts served in a hotel or restaurant, they assist with menu planning and dessert preparation for special events like weddings. Many consider themselves true artists, emphasizing the visual appeal of a dessert as much as the flavor.

* Gourmet store shopper/manager - Still not convinced you want a career in restaurants or hotels? Consider a role in a gourmet shop. "As gourmet and organic chains like Wegman's and Whole Foods have gained in popularity, demand has risen for marketers, managers and buyers who understand what foods people want to eat," says Frances. "A culinary degree can help you make informed, exciting choices if you're a buyer for one of these stores."

To find a cooking school and get started on your alternative culinary career, visit  www.cookingschools.com.  

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