1.) Top Chef – F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.” But for season eight’s contestants on Top Chef, they are getting a second chance at the title. It featured past contestants who just fell short of winning the whole enchilada their first time around.
In each episode, contestants face two challenges: the Quickfire Challenge, which requires them to cook a dish under very particular ingredient guidelines and a time restriction; and the Elimination Challenge, which pushed them to use their poise and creativity under a variety of strange conditions and bizarre rules. What can this show teach prospective culinary students?
First of all, to thrive in the culinary industry, you need to be a leader, you need to be inventive, and you have to think quickly. Having broad knowledge of ingredients and cultural styles will help you cater to different audiences. By limiting yourself to certain ingredients, you will improve your improvisational skills and learn to think on your feet without stressing out.
2.) Kitchen Nightmares – Speaking of stress, have you ever seen Gordon Ramsey in a good mood? Imagine if this guy walked into your kitchen. Where would you even start? Gordon comes off as a strong-headed guy who specializes in screaming at struggling restaurant owners. But his drill-sergeant style of hosting the show is exactly what’s needed to turn around a poorly performing restaurant.
Each week, Gordon enters a situation bordering on catastrophe. Often, the owners are in over their heads – selling poorly devised recipes, offering less-than-stellar service, and teetering on the brink of failure.
What can Gordon teach you about the industry? Well, first of all, it’s very tough to be a successful restaurant owner. Before you make the leap to owning your own restaurant, make sure you have the kind of mindset that can handle running a business. Oftentimes, people think that having the culinary skills will make them successful as a restaurant owner.
Cooking and running a business require two different skill sets. If you have both, then great. Go for it. But be honest with yourself. If you would rather hide in the kitchen perfecting recipes, then leave the paperwork to someone else. Otherwise, your dream come true will quickly turn into a nightmare!
3.) Marcel’s Quantum Kitchen – Remember that crazy kid in your chemistry class who always blew up beakers or accidentally set things on fire? Okay, maybe he wasn’t in your class. But surely, those who went to school with Marcel Vigneron know what I’m talking about.
His show is featured on the SyFy Channel, which sounds a little strange, but where else would you go to learn how to make Mac ‘n Chains (cheddar cheese noodles with cheese foam) or a deconstructed chili? My personal favorite is Air Bread Pizza served on a levitating hovercraft.
What can a show like this teach you? Well, let’s be honest – his methods of food preparation are far from practical. Not many kitchens boast a food dehydrator and safety goggles. But a good gimmick can garner a lot of attention. The key is making sure you provide customers with something they will crave when they are hungry. You want people to take their friends to your restaurant for two reasons: the food and the experience. Be sure you offer the best of both worlds!
If you are thinking about entering a culinary program, talk to the faculty and share your goals with them. Listen carefully to what their programs offer, and ask what the typical outcome is for most of their students. If you are interested in starting your own restaurant, then make sure there are classes that focus on the business side of things as well.
Ready to start looking for the right culinary program? There are a diverse menu of options for culinary schools out there. Shorter programs will be a great choice for those who are interested in getting fast training and a job as soon as possible. For those starting the college search and who can spend more time in training, some culinary schools offer two- and four-year programs that would be excellent preparation for a culinary career.
