Interest in food as an art as well as a meal is more popular than ever. Culinary arts jobs are found at restaurants, private homes, schools and institutions, caterers, and test kitchens. Chefs, cooks, and food preparation specialists work in a variety of settings from greasy spoon cafes to avant-garde bistros. Some specialize in desserts while others work in wine, spirit, and beverage management. And jobs in the culinary arts are as varied as tastes in food and drink. Some foodies write and blog while others find employment as cooking instructors or restaurant managers.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that jobs in the culinary arts field are expected to grow at an average rate of 10 percent a year. This includes culinary jobs for cooks and chefs in full-service restaurants, fast food cooks, and cafeteria cooks. But some areas of the culinary industry are expanding at a faster rate. As interest in healthy eating increases, so do the number of jobs in natural food preparation. There are also growing demands for nutritional consultants who provide dietary information for institutions that prepare food on a large scale, including hospitals and schools.
A formal culinary education can help you get a job as food service manager, with diverse job opportunities. Food service managers work to maintain high-quality food and service at restaurants. They must have a keen awareness of what goes on in a kitchen, dining area, and restaurant office. For these professionals, kitchen abilities are as important as customer service and administrative skills. Food service managers also work with executive chefs to plan menus.
Those who wish to freelance in the culinary arts might want to explore the option of becoming a private or personal chef. These specialists are hired by wealthy clients, or those with special dietary needs, to prepare meals in private residences.
One of the more exotic culinary jobs involves research and food development for large corporations. Research chefs combine science, nutrition and culinary skills to develop mass produced products like the Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco at Taco Bell. A job as a research chef can pay up to $90,000 a year for those with an understanding of food science.
Sustainable cuisine is at the other end of the table. As interest grows in slow food and farm-to-table cuisine, sustainable chefs and entrepreneurs are at the forefront of the green cuisine and healthy eating movement. Whether your interest is slow food, fast food, or fun food, job opportunities abound. Especially for those with training and experience in the culinary arts.