Culinary Schools in California
San Francisco and Los Angeles anchor the Golden State’s food scene but the state as a whole has numerous foodie spots popping up all the time. No mater what type of food, ethnicity, technologically advanced form of cooking or, how vegan something is, it’s all in California. The state boasts an assorted collection of restaurants, restaurateurs and cooking trends, from plant-based foods to molecular gastronomy to hot dog stands, and burger joints and has something for every foodie. In the Northern half of the state images of lush vineyards, seasonal fruits and vegetables and a laid back environment are indicative of farm fresh concepts. In Southern California some of America's most original and famous fast food joints have defined generations of family meals including McDonald’s, In-N-Out Burger, Carl’s Jr., Panda Express, and Jack In The Box. San Francisco and Los Angeles are the two focal points of California's culinary arts universe, drawing attention from critics and patrons from all over the world, yet the state offers a bounty of foods and restaurants. As of 2015 California holds 50 restaurants with a Michelin 1-, 2- or 3-star ranking, more than any other state in the nation, outside of New York.
The culinary industry in California is the largest in the country, actually outpacing New York. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), there are more than 65,000 restaurants, which result in almost $70 billion in annual sales, not surprising considering there are 35 million people who live in California, and an estimated 260 million annual visitors. According to the NRA restaurants accounted for more than 1.6 million jobs in 2015, which is about 11% of California’s total employment, and is expected to add nearly 175,000 more by 2025. Many of these jobs will center around California's largest population centers: Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. The California Employment Development Department projects strong growth for a number of culinary professions between 2016 and 2022. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests nearly double-digit growth, similar to the 9.1% growth in 2015. Individual culinary occupations, such as chefs and food service managers are also expected to see continued gains between 2016 and 2022.
Prospective chefs can choose from a multitude of educational and career path opportunities at a variety of culinary schools. Some of the top culinary schools in the nation are in California: The Culinary Institute of America, Le Cordon Bleu, and more than 40 others from tradition culinary arts to college and impressive community college programs. Typically, students attending culinary schools can choose from four subjects of study: Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Culinary Management, and Hospitality Management, but there are also strong culinary fields to consider such as food technologists and scientists, caterers, sommeliers, and private chefs.
The cuisine of California varies widely and if there is one thing the Golden State is known for it is farm to table, fresh, local and organic. Although San Francisco and Los Angeles are obvious locations in which to attend culinary schools prospective students should consider other locations like San Diego, the Central Coast, and even Fresno, as restaurant openings are becoming more commonplace in smaller markets with less competition. Overall in spite of California’s size, there are bright years ahead.
California Culinary Arts Schools, Baking & Pastry Schools, Hospitality Management Schools by City
Los Angeles Area
Baldwin Park Adult & Community EducationBaldwin Park CAwww.bpace.k12.ca.usCerritos CollegeNorwalk CAwww.cerritos.eduGlendale Community CollegeGlendale CAwww.glendale.eduHacienda La Puente Adult EducationLa Puente CAwww.hlpae.comLe Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-PasadenaPasadena CAwww.chefs.edu/los-angeles/Long Beach City CollegeLong Beach CAwww.lbcc.eduLos Angeles Harbor CollegeWilmington CAwww.lahc.eduLos Angeles Mission CollegeSylmar CAwww.lamission.eduLos Angeles Trade Technical CollegeLos Angeles CAwww.lattc.eduMt San Antonio CollegeWalnut CAwww.mtsac.eduOrange Coast CollegeCosta Mesa CAwww.orangecoastcollege.edu/Pasadena City CollegePasadena CAwww.pasadena.eduRiverside City CollegeRiverside CAwww.rcc.edu/riverside/Saddleback CollegeMission Viejo CAwww.saddleback.eduSan Bernardino Valley CollegeSan Bernardino CAwww.valleycollege.eduThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University HollywoodNorth Hollywood CAwww.aicdc.artinstitutes.eduThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University Inland EmpireSan Bernardino CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/inlandempireThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University Los AngelesSanta Monica CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/los-angeles/The Art Institute of California-Argosy University Orange CountySanta Ana CAwww.aicaoc.artinstitutes.eduSan Diego Area
Grossmont CollegeEl Cajon CAwww.grossmont.edu/San Diego Culinary InstituteSan Diego CAwww.sandiegoculinary.eduSan Diego Mesa CollegeSan Diego CAwww.sdmesa.edu/Southwestern College Chula Vista CAwww.swccd.edu/The Art Institute of California-Argosy University San DiegoSan Diego CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/san-diego/San Francisco, Oakland & Napa Valley Areas
City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco CAwww.ccsf.eduContra Costa CollegeSan Pablo CAwww.contracosta.eduCulinary Institute of AmericaSt Helena CAhttp://www.ciachef.edu/california/Diablo Valley CollegePleasant Hill CAwww.dvc.eduLaney CollegeOakland CAwww.laney.edu/wp/Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-San FranciscoSan Francisco CAwww.caculinary.eduSan Joaquin Delta CollegeStockton CAwww.deltacollege.eduSanta Rosa Junior CollegeSanta Rosa CAwww.santarosa.eduThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University San FranciscoSan Francisco CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/san-francisco/San JoseCET-SobratoSan Jose CAwww.Cetweb.orgInternational Culinary Center-CaliforniaCampbell CAwww.internationalculinarycenter.comThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University-Silicon ValleySunnyvale CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/silicon-valley/Sacramento Area
American River CollegeSacramento CAwww.arc.losrios.edu/Cosumnes River CollegeSacramento CAwww.crc.losrios.edu/Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-SacramentoSacramento CAwww.chefs.edu/SacramentoThe Art Institute of California-Argosy University SacramentoSacramento CAwww.artinstitutes.edu/sacramento/San Jose Area
CET-SobratoSan Jose CA
International Culinary Center-CaliforniaCampbell CA
www.internationalculinarycenter.com
The Art Institute of California-Argosy University-Silicon ValleySunnyvale CA
www.artinstitutes.edu/silicon-valley/
