Culinary School Programs Lead to Good Careers in Tennessee

Between Nashville, Knoxville and Memphis—three of the major Tennessee metropolitan areas—you have a wide selection of culinary institutes and food service industry degree programs from which to choose. This southeastern state features a few wildly popular tourist attractions, including adventure parks, theme parks, ski resorts, and music Meccas. Food goes hand-in-hand with tourism.

Noshing Around Tennessee: The OTHER Culinary Education

Where there is tourism and entertainment there is also a vibrant culinary scene. What is a culinary education if you don’t sample the local cuisine outside your school’s teaching kitchen? Here, in the eateries of Memphis and Nashville is the real food service industry in all its glory. Memphis, home of the Blues and Elvis, is also famed for its BBQ rib joints. Nashville, home of country music,

Look for exciting new and experienced chefs in small out of the way restaurants, like Jarrett’s in Memphis. Yes, you’ll find local standards like ribs, seafood, oysters, and fried chicken, but you’ll also discover a lively and refreshing experience that rises above the “southern” food expectation. In fact these cities boast some of the best chefs in the country, so make the top rated restaurants and chefs a required addition to your academic studies.

Regional food festivals also sport excellent opps to chow down on some of the “best of” restaurants, taste wines and even see recipe and chef competitions:

• Iron Fork, Nashville
• Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, Memphis
• Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue, Lynchburg
• Wine Over Water, Chattanooga

Choosing a Cooking Program in TN

The school you choose should provide you with the tools that prepare you to compete in the industry, locally or nationally:

• Internships, externships and/or apprenticeships are proper academic vehicles for work/study AND for making valuable industry connections. In some cases your internship could lead directly to a job after school.
• Well-equipped student/teaching kitchens ensure you are completely fit to navigate any professional restaurant kitchen.
• Professional chef/instructors provide current industry best practices as well as expert guidance.
• Career guidance and job placement are important services that ensure your school is committed to your future success.
• Student-run restaurants, especially high-volume, give you excellent work/learning opportunities while you serve a discerning public clientele.

Going to Work as a Chef

Salaries for chefs across Tennessee vary most by professional experience, but other key factors also include your education, location, and type of establishment. Expect larger metro areas to offer better salaries as well as more job opportunities. Good news is that many chef and hospitality jobs require candidates to have a culinary/hospitality management degree, so choose your school with career and resume in mind. Average salaries for sous chefs in Nashville and Knoxville, respectively, are $37,000 and $45,000.

List of Tennessee Cooking Schools

The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institute of Nashville is one of 30+ AI culinary programs across the U.S. and all are sponsored by The Food Network. This very popular culinary schools consistently turns out quality chefs and hospitality managers. Degree programs in Nashville: Bachelors Culinary Arts Management, Associates Culinary Arts, Culinary Arts/Baking and Pastry Diploma, and Culinary Arts/Skills Diploma.

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

Belmont University – Nashville
Carson-Newman College - Jefferson City
Hiwassee College – Madisonville
Lambuth University – Jackson
Lipscomb University – Nashville
Middle Tennessee State University – Murfreesboro
Nashville State Technical Institute – Nashville
Pellissippi State Technical Community College - Knoxville
Southwest Tennessee Community College – Memphis
Tennessee State University – Nashville
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Walters State Community College – Morristown