Choose a New York Cooking School

Find Culinary Programs

Take your cooking passion to the ultimate culinary proving ground—New York.  New York City boasts a full representation of the best culinary schools operating on the modern educational scene. The city holds a special place in American culinary lore, with a long history of unique gastronomy.  The multicultural nature of the city is reflected in a pooling of food influences that overflows with ethnic fusion, and authentic national traditions.

To the delight of their Food Network indoctrinated TV followings, famous restaurateurs like Bobby Flay and Mario Batali operate in the big city, but names like Delmonico’s and The Russian Tea Room pre-date these culinary young lions outings – by a lifetime.

As a culinary student, there is no limit to the off campus learning that awaits you in The Big Apple, so it pays to distill your culinary dreams to a manageable scope of consideration, before getting carried away on an epicurean tangent.  Are you an Italian-American eager to promulgate your love for your ancestral cuisine?  Or are your progressive chef’s ambitions linked to one of a kind creations that bear allegiance to nothing more than your own passion and creativity?  Perhaps you just want to bake good pies.

Wherever you fall on the gastronomic spectrum, there is a place for you in New York, and a school to propel your career down your chosen path.  The industry promotes from within, so whatever your entry point, you can be sure that a solid culinary education will advance your cause.

Choosing a Culinary School in New York

For chefs, New York City is one of THE most competitive markets on the planet; still, the sheer number of restaurants operating in the city makes for a culinary employment scene that is rich with opportunities - at all levels.  If you want a program that’s affordable, accelerated and job-driven, focus on technical and community college options. The two-year Associate’s degree programs offered by such vocational schools fulfill your learning needs for rapid job placement, in professional kitchens.

If your goal is an advanced degree at the Baccalaureate level, consider a four-year business driven hospitality degree from one of the state’s universities. For prestigious world-class curriculums, taught by renowned chefs, go for the gusto at the French Culinary Institute or the Culinary Institute of America-Hyde Park, where the alumni list reads like a Who’s Who of contemporary chefs.

Choose a school that is armed with the tools to successfully propel you down your chosen career path. Don’t lose sight of the finish line, meaningful employment upon graduation.  Hallmarks of schools dedicated to moving your career forward include:

• Internships/externships in local, national and international kitchens
• Apprenticeship connections with respected chefs
• State-of-the-art kitchens and baking facilities
• Professional chef/instructors who bring varied backgrounds to their teaching kitchens
• Student run restaurants that are open to the public
• Career guidance and continuing education opportunities  
• Catering operations that mimic commercial enterprises
• On campus clubs and organizations, to supplement your classroom experiences
• Job boards and placement assistance

Compete for a Chef’s Job in New York

Job opportunities for culinary professionals in New York fall across a wide range of placements, from entry-level prep cook, to seasoned sous chef. Career paths for Culinary Arts graduates might include stops at restaurants, hotels, resorts, spas, hospital kitchens, corporate banquet kitchens, catering companies and even personal chef enterprises. Salaries for kitchen staffers in New York are generally higher, across the board, due to higher cost of living.  Other factors influence starting pay, and salary mobility, within the industry.  Consider your education, professional experience, type of employment, location - and even reputation, when gauging your salary expectations. The industry promotes from within, so for rapid advancement, always put your professionalism on display. Average salaries for sous chefs in Manhattan generally fall between $43,000 and $53,000.

List of New York Cooking Schools

French Culinary Institute in New York City dishes up a consummate classical French curriculum, with several concentrated areas of study to choose from.  600 hours of training advances your skills through the rigors of the entire series of kitchen stations and techniques required for employment across the industry. A Wine Intensive option is offered alongside Technology Concentration, which evokes futuristic culinary scenarios in the present day. The school caters to professional chefs, but offers an impressive course catalog for serious amateurs. Programs: Classic Culinary Arts, Classic Pastry Arts, and the Art of International Bread Baking.

The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park is the alma mater of some of today’s best and brightest chef stars. Iron Chef Michael Symon is an alum, as are Anthony Bourdain and Cat Cora. Julia Child called it the Harvard of culinary schools. Your education at CIA sets the industry standard for comprehensive culinary competence. Count them: 5 student-run restaurants that let you work and learn in high-volume professional environments. Programs of study include: Bachelor's Culinary Arts Management, Associate’s Culinary Arts, Bachelor’s Baking and Pastry Arts Management, and Associate’s Baking and Pastry Arts.

Institute of Culinary Education in New York City delivers top of the line world-class culinary education in as little as 6 to 11 months. Curriculums are developed to consistently turn out the best chefs possible, and prepare them to hit the ground running in any of the best NYC restaurants. Schedules accommodate full-time and part-time students – an important feature for working professionals.  Required externships and extensive financial aid offerings offer added appeal for committed gourmands. Programs include: Diplomas in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, and Culinary Management.

Culinary Academy of Long Island in Syosset is one of a pair of local culinary program locations. Curriculums exist for professionals as well as amateurs. The Commercial Cooking program is specifically designed for evening learning, to accommodate working students.  The 900 hour career program in an all encompassing progression that starts with basics like knife skills, before advancing to other areas of kitchen competence.  The Pastry and Baking program focuses on classical pastry techniques and bread making, in a 600 hours degree program. Career coursework includes: Professional Cooking, Commercial Cooking, Professional Pastry and Baking, and Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Career Academy of New York is the partner school to the Culinary Academy of Long Island. 9 month degree curriculums unfold as career-driven commercial programs, designed to impart the required skills for entry-level employment: Commercial Cooking and Catering, Commercial Cooking (evening only program), and Hotel and Restaurant Management.

State University of New York administers a wide variety of programs at two and four-year institutions across the state.  Associate’s in Culinary Arts can be obtained at these campuses:

• Alfred
• Cobleskill
• Delhi
• Erie –City
• Erie-North
• Mohawk
• Niagra
• Schenectady
• Sullivan

New York State Colleges, Community and Technical Colleges Offering Culinary, Restaurant Management, and/or Hospitality Degrees

• Broome Community College – Binghamton
  
• Bryant and Stratton Business Institute - Lackawanna-Rochester-Syracuse-Williamsville
  
• Buffalo State College – Buffalo
  
• Cornell University – Ithaca
  
• Delhi College of Technology – Delhi
  
• D’Youville College – Buffalo
  
• Erie Community College - Buffalo-Orchard Park-Williamsville
  
• Finger Lakes Community College – Canandaigua
  
• Genesee Community College – Batavia
  
• Hunter College - New York
  
• Katharine Gibbs School – Melville
  
• Kingsborough Community College – Brooklyn
  
• Keuka College - Keuka Park
  
• La Guardia Community College/CUNY - Long Island City
  
• Mohawk Valley Community College – Utica
  
• Monroe College – Bronx
  
• Monroe Community College – Rochester
  
• Nassau Community College - Garden City
  
• Natural Gourmet Institute - Manhattan
• New York City Technical College – Brooklyn
  
• New York Institute of Technology - Central Islip-New York-Old Westbury
  
• New York University - New York
  
• Niagara County Community College – Sanborn
  
• Niagara University - Niagara University
  
• North Country Community College - Saranac Lake
  
• Onondaga Community College – Syracuse
  
• Orange County Community College – Middletown
  
• Pace University - New York
  
• Paul Smiths College - Paul Smiths
  
• Rochester Institute of Technology – Rochester
  
• Saint Johns University – Jamaica
  
• Schenectady County Community College – Schenectady
  
• Suffolk County Community College – Riverhead
  
• Sullivan County Community College - Loch Sheldrake
  
• Suny College of Agriculture and Technology - Cobleskill-Morrisville
  
• Suny College at Cortland - Cortland
  
• Suny College at Oneonta – Oneonta
  
• Suny Plattsburgh – Plattsburgh
  
• Syracuse University – Syracuse
  
• The New School - New York
  
• Tompkins-Cortland Community College – Dryden
  
• Trocaire College – Buffalo
  
• Villa Maria College - Buffalo
  
• Westchester Community College – Valhalla

ACF Accredited Programs

Postsecondary

Erie Community College – North Campus
6205 Main St., Williamsville, NY 14221-8402
Williamsville, NY 14221-8402

Phone: (716) 270-5256
Contact: Mark G. Wright, CEC, AAC - wrightm@ecc.edu

Programs

• AOS Degree in Culinary Arts

Erie Community College - City Campus
121 Ellicott St.,
Buffalo, NY 14203-2601

Phone: (716) 851-1052
Contact: Dorothy Marie Johnston, CEC, CCE, AAC - johnston@ecc.edu

Programs

• AOS Degree in Culinary Arts
• Certificate in Baking and Pastry

Niagara County Community College
3111 Saunders Settlement Rd.,
Sanborn, NY 14132-9506

Phone: (716) 614-6222
Contact: Mark A. Mistriner, CEC, AAC - mistrine@niagaracc.suny.edu

Programs

• AAS Degree in Baking and Pastry
• AAS Degree in Culinary Arts
• Certificate in Baking and Pastry
• Culinary Skills Certificate

Schenectady County Community College
78 Washington Ave.,
Schenectady, NY 12305-2215

Phone: (518) 381-1200
Fax: (518) 327-6369
Contact: David E. Brough, Ph.D, CEC, CCE, CCA - broughde@gw.sunysccc.edu

Programs

• Associate Degree in Culinary Arts

SUNY - Cobleskill AG & Tech College
107 Schenectady Ave.,
Cobleskill, NY 12043-1704

Phone: (518) 255-5476, (518) 255-5822
Fax: (518) 265-6325
Contact: JoAnne E. Cloughly, CCC, CEPC - cloughje@cobleskill.edu, ason R. Evans - evansjr@cobleskill.edu, David M. Yanisko, CEC - yaniskdm@cobleskill.edu

Programs

• AOS Degree in Culinary Arts

SUNY - Delhi College of Technology
2 Main Street,
Delhi, NY 13753

Phone: (607) 746-4402
Fax: (607) 746-4769
Contact: David Brower, Ph.D. - browerdc@delhi.edu

Programs

• AAS Degree in Culinary Arts

The Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College
434 Main St.,
New Rochelle, NY 10801-6410

Phone: (914) 740-6448
Contact: David Brower, Ph.D. - browerdc@delhi.edu

Programs

• AAS Degree in Baking and Pastry
• AAS Degree in Culinary Arts

Secondary

Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School a]]Schoharie
174 State Route 30a,
Schoharie, NY 12157-5200

Phone: (518) 295-8191
Contact: Nancy S Iannacone - niannaco@gw.neric.org

Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School: Albany Campus
1015 Watervliet Shaker Rd.,
Albany, NY 12205-2111

Phone: (518) 862-4800
Fax: (518) 862-4818
Contact: Mark D. Brucker, CEC, CCE - mark.brucker@neric.org

Edward J. Milliken Technical Center
375 Locust Ave.,
Oakdale, NY 11769-1650

Phone: (631) 244-5831
Fax: (631) 244-5814
Contact: Matthew S. Kozak - mkozak@esboces.org, Richard H. Simon - rsimon@esboces.org

Erie 1 BOCES- Harkness Career and Technical Center
99 Aero Dr.,
Buffalo, NY 14225-1401

Phone: (716) 961-4070, (716) 821-7500
Fax: (716) 632-1076
Contact: wfd@e1b.org

Programs

• Baking and Pastry
• Culinary Arts

Erie 1 BOCES: Potter Career and Technical Center
705 Potters Rd.,
West Seneca, NY 14224-2652

Phone: (716) 821-7331
Fax: (716) 821-7336
Contact: Donna Mann - dmann@e1b.org

H.B. Ward Career and Academic Center
970 N. Griffing Ave.,
Riverhead, NY 11901-2763

Phone: (631) 369-8100
Fax: (631) 369-5357
Contact: Eric Rickmers - erickmer@esboces.org

Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center
1196 Prospect Ave.,
Westbury, NY 11590-2700

Phone: (516) 622-6800
Fax: (516) 333-9384
Contact: Michael C. DeLillo - mdelillo@nasboces.org

Lewis A Wilson Technological Center
17 Westminster Ave.,
Dix Hills, NY 11746-6338

Phone: (631) 472-9013
Fax: (631) 586-1213
Contact: Robert Scavo - rscavo@wsboces.org

Certificate & Job Training Programs

South Bronx Job Corps
1771 Andrews Ave.,
Bronx, NY 10453-6803

Phone: (718) 294-5693
Fax: (718) 731-7208
Contact: Rosaba Vargas - vargas.rosalba@jobcorps.org

Delaware Valley Job Corp
PO Box 846,
Callicoon, NY 12723-0846

Phone: (845) 887-5400 x 130
Fax: (845) 887-9863
Contact: Danica Kinnard - dvfinanace@adamsaai.com

Glenmont Job Corps Center
822 River Rd.,
Glenmont, NY 12077-4108

Phone: (518) 767-2438
Contact: Erin Ferguson - ferguson.erin@jobcorps.org