Alabama’s Top Cooking Schools: Become a Chef in the Deep South

Culinary arts as a career, versus as just a job, has come into its own. In Alabama you’ll notice the addition of dynamic and exciting culinary arts and food service degrees that just would not have attracted students in years past. But cheffing as a career is now ultra-cool.

If you’re shopping for a good cooking school in Alabama check out the list below. But also look locally. Some very good programs now exist at Alabama community and technical colleges.

Internships are key components in many chef training programs. Good news is that many of the culinary arts schools in Alabama are in areas that allow you great internship opportunity.

The Professional Chef Scene in Alabama

But Alabama also offers students a vital culinary scene in which to learn your skills and cut your teeth. Check out the booming contemporary American dining in the major cities, such as Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile. Restaurants teem with diners seeking new food thrills and the environment is ripe for next generation chefs willing and ambitious enough to answer the call.

Types of jobs for chefs in Alabama:

• Casual and fine dining restaurants
• Resorts and hotels
• Spas
• Indian Casinos
• Businesses
• Institutions such as schools and hospitals
• Military chef

Top Cooking Schools in the State of Alabama

Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, located in downtown Birmingham. Within 36-weeks you can be working on the job following a dynamic and engaging immersion program in the culinary arts. Or, if you already are a working food service pro, check out Culinard’s online Associates degree in Culinary Arts.

Trenholm State Technical College’s award-winning Culinary Arts program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission. Degrees include: Associates in Culinary Arts, Associates in Culinary Arts/Hospitality Management and a Certificate in Culinary Arts. The training kitchen is that also used by the culinary Olympic team, which means you learn among the best in the world. Speed and accuracy matter? You bet they do.

University of North Alabama recently bulked up its degree programs with the addition of the very cutting edge 4-year Bachelors degree in Culinary Arts. Emphasis is on kitchen skills and culinary wizardry, but the additional academics allow for business and management courses to be included.

Study Culinary Arts or Pastry Baking and Confectionary or Restaurant Management at the Gulf Coast Culinary Institute at Faulkner State in Bay Minette. The school offers an affordable and comprehensive education that puts you squarely on track to a good chef or hospitality job WITH tons of kitchen experience already under your belt. Student-run kitchen is Frederic’s and is open for dinner a few nights each week so students can cut their chops, so to speak, in the business.

Alabama State Colleges, Community and Technical Colleges Offering Culinary and Pastry Arts, Restaurant Management, and/or Hospitality Degrees

Auburn University – Auburn
Jefferson State Community College – Birmingham
Samford University – Birmingham
Shelton State Community College – Tuscaloosa
Tuskegee University – Tuskegee
University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa