Dear Reader, if your dream career has been to become a professional chef, sommelier, or restaurateur, then, this article on culinary schools in Tennessee is “a must-read” for you.
The State of Tennessee is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th largest by area and the 16th most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina to the east, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi to the south, Arkansas to the southwest, and Missouri to the northwest.
Tennessee is geographically, culturally, and legally divided into three Grand Divisions of East, Middle, and West Tennessee. Nashville is the state’s capital and the largest city and anchors its largest metropolitan area.
Other major cities include Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Clarksville. Tennessee’s population as of the 2020 United States census is approximately 6.9 million.
Tennessee is famous for some foods and drinks namely: Sweet tea, RC Cola and Moon Pie, Country ham, Fried catfish, Stack cake, Tomatoes, Memphis Ribs, and Jack Daniels. These food and drinks are eaten almost every day by the Citizens of Tennessee
Tennessee has various eateries and restaurants all over the state including the top best which are: Alleluia,
Bastion, Biscuit Love, City House, JC Holdway, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack, Restaurant Iris, The Stock and Barrel, The wild plum tea room, And Hog and hominy.
Because of these eateries, people with culinary skills are in high demand in the state to fill in these eateries and satiate the taste buds of customers. People have also gone to the extent of enrolling in cooking courses as well as baking courses all in the bid to satisfy the sweet tooth of their intending customers.
Becoming a professional chef, restaurateur or sommelier is not easy. You don’t just have to love food and cooking. You also have to focus on picking up the skills, knowledge, and stamina necessary to survive the constant hustle and bustle inside a kitchen. it is also worthwhile to learn about food safety courses that will help you ensure the good health of your customers.
In case you reside in other US states, we have tons of written articles on culinary courses in Canada, culinary courses in Florida as well as culinary courses in colorado, etc.
To become a culinary expert, there are important skills to be acquired. They are listed below
Creativity
Being a chef isn’t just about cooking fast but also about devising new recipes and finding new methods of presentation. Without creativity, it’s near impossible to make it as a chef.
Strong work ethic
Doing double shifts at the restaurant, preparing food on time, and sacrificing the hours you would have otherwise spent with friends and family is a rite of passage to becoming a chef.
Physical endurance
When in the kitchen, you will be expected to work for long periods without taking any breaks. And you’ll have to do all of that in the heat of the kitchen. Naturally, you’ll have to build physical endurance to be able to do it.
Manual dexterity
As a chef, you’ll have to be mixing, slicing, assembling, chopping, squeezing washing, and doing all sorts of manual things while also keeping your table and your sleeves clean.
Attention to detail
One mistake and your dish won’t taste as good, the customers will be dissatisfied, and your reputation will go down. If you don’t learn how to be perfect at cooking, things can easily fall apart.
Just as there are many Culinary Schools in Minnesota, Tennessee also has numerous Culinary Schools too all over the state.
In Tennessee, five culinary schools can give you the skills you need to start a culinary career. They are primarily located in urban areas. The average cost of tuition throughout the state is $8,367, but the average scholarship award is an impressive $2,028.
There are some requirements needed for a culinary school. Though the requirements differ for each school, there are still the general or basic requirements most culinary schools if not all will ask of.
Below are some of them:
- You must have completed your high school and be ready to present high school certificates, official transcripts, GED, HISET, high school equivalency documents, etc.
- You must pay a non-refundable fee of $25. However, it is important to note that in some schools, it may be more or less and it may not also be required in some schools.
- You must provide your reference letters with valid ID cards.
- You must write and submit your essay
- You must possess a study permit card or a student visa for international students.
- Your score for proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL for English, DELE for the Spanish language, DELF or DALF for the French, and DSH, OSD, TELF, and TestDAF for the German language must be submitted. Note too that not all culinary schools require this.
Culinary Schools in Tennessee
There are numerous Culinary Schools in Minnesota, below are examples of some of these schools with their admissions requirements, tuition fees, and program duration.
1. University of Tennessee
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Knoxville.
The University of Tennessee is home to the UT Culinary & Catering Program. This full-time, 12-week program prepares students for careers in restaurants, hotels, catering, food trucks, and other hospitality locales. Students are trained in a commercial kitchen, where they’ll learn from upwards of 15 industry professionals.
The program is intense and challenging but exposes students to real-life scenarios such as catering to large events, operating a food truck during a lunch rush, and creating a restaurant menu, among other things. Upon completion of the program, students may choose to continue to pursue their chef’s certification.
2. Middle Tennessee State University
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Murfreesboro.
Middle Tennessee State University features a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Science. The degree focuses on nutrition and how to select and prepare nutritious foods. Students have the opportunity to prepare food in a newly renovated food lab with state-of-the-art equipment.
Area hospitals and nursing homes often request Nutrition and Food Science students and graduates to work in their facilities. Graduates have also gone on to work with professional athletes to address their specific nutritional needs.
3. Southwest Tennessee Community College
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Memphis.
This top culinary school features a state-of-the-art kitchen and classroom so students are always working with the latest in culinary technology. This 60-credit-hour program features a wide variety of courses including ice carving, professional catering, management, and nutrition.
The culinary program at STCC has several partnerships with exciting companies offering internship opportunities. Disney is one of the most popular of these partnerships. Graduates of this program are well prepared to become entry-level chefs in a variety of settings including restaurants, resorts, and hotels.
4. Chattanooga State Community College
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Dunlap.
Chattanooga State Community College features an Associate of Applied Science degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a concentration in the Culinary Arts. The program prepares students to work in restaurants, hotels, catering operations, and health care facilities. This 60-credit-hour program can be completed in two years.
Coursework includes ice carving, management, catering, legal aspects, supervision, and management. An internship opportunity is provided as part of the program to allow students to gain work experience before entering the field on their own.
5. Nossi College of Art
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school’s location is in Nashville.
The two-year program is completely overseen by industry professionals, including several successful professional chefs. Students complete a series of 17 courses on topics such as European and Mediterranean Cuisine, Baking Basics, and Restaurant Technology and Cost Control. An internship and a capstone project are also required to complete the program.
6. Nashville State Community College
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Nashville.
Students learn to think creatively and work as a team in a professional kitchen environment. This top culinary school has a hands-on program where students develop and apply their culinary skills. Students learn how to create a menu, develop a budget, use cost control and inventory control measures, and prepare foods in a sanitary environment.
Two 300-clock hours paid internships are part of the curriculum allowing students professional work opportunities before graduation.
The culinary School runs a 2-year prograItst’s in-state tuition is $ 4,294 and the average cost after aid is $7,669.
7. Pellissippi State Community College
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Knoxville.
Ideal for students who love food and entrepreneurship, this culinary degree program provides students with fundamental business and management training. Uniquely, Pellissippi State Community College’s culinary arts program is a cohort program, meaning students begin, progress through, and graduate from the program altogether.
Required courses to complete the degree include Garde Manger, Breakfast Cookery, and Introduction to Business, to name but three.
8. Rel Maples Institute of Culinary Arts at Walter State Community College
This is one of the top culinary schools in Tennessee featuring a variety of culinary degrees, programs, and certifications. The school is located in Sevierville.
Rel Maples Institute of Culinary Arts includes a 2,100 square foot facility where students have access to a state-of-the-art kitchen, bakeshop, demo kitchen, and dining room. Students create menus, prepare food, and serve at special caters around campus.
The program features hands-on learning while in the program and during their internship experience. Graduates are prepared for careers in baking, food service, restaurant management, and non-commercial food service.
The culinary School runs a 2-year program. Its in-state tuition is $ 4,328 and the average cost after aid is $3,404.
Culinary Schools in Tennessee – FAQs
What is the age requirement for culinary schools in Tennessee?
The average age of the school’s students is 28, and its yearlong programs in culinary or pastry arts are tight, focused, and fast-paced.