Advantages of Studying Culinary Arts in Arizona
September 12, 2009
•Le Cordon Bleu
•Scottsdale
• 0 Comments
Why pursue chef training in Arizona? If the beautiful desert scenery and more than 300 days of sunshine a year aren’t enough to entice you to Scottsdale to begin training to become a chef, then we’ve got some other reasons you might like. From the urban hot spot of Phoenix to the beautiful oasis of Scottsdale to the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona provides an excellent back drop to begin pursuing your culinary career. Read on to find more advantages beginning your chef training in Arizona.
Growth of the Desert Southwest
Once thought of as the land cactus and cowboys, the desert Southwest has grown to become an important destination for both domestic and international travellers. The Phoenix/Scottsdale/Sedona region has grown to a population of over 3.5 million residents and is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation.*
As a result Arizona has become an important food and fine dining destination. This means the potential for a wealth of Arizona chef jobs in the region.
Scottsdale Culinary Arts Festival
Each year Arizona shines with the Scottsdale Culinary Arts Festival, one of the longest running festivals of its kind in the United States. Chefs, authors, restaurateurs and other culinary personalities descend on Scottsdale and for six days they turn the desert into a huge celebration of food, style, and celebrity.
With over 40,000 guests mingling with the culinary dignitaries, the Scottsdale Culinary Arts Festival will play a major part in your chef training as you pursue Arizona chef jobs.
Golf
Yes, golf plays an important part in Arizona’s culinary arts scene, particularly in Scottsdale. You may not know it, but Scottsdale is one of the most popular golf travel destinations in the world. With nearly 200 courses just in Scottsdale, Arizona is on every golfers map. Along with those golf courses come the hotels, resorts and restaurants that cater to the golfers.
Southwestern Cuisine
As a Scottsdale chef you could have the opportunity to contribute to one the most popular cuisines in the United States. Southwestern cuisine is the combination of foods and cooking styles from Mexico, Spanish colonial settler, Native Americans, and cowboys. Throw in a few Hatch chilis from neighboring New Mexico, plenty of kitchen skills and experience, and you could be on your way to an exciting career as a Scottsdale chef.
The various titles of “chef” generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen (for example, Sous Chef, Executive Chef). Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef throughout the course of their careers. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.
*From the City Mayors Statics database: http://www.citymayors.com/gratis/uscities_growth.html