Culinary Arts
Get a taste of the field of culinary arts, which is the art of preparing and cooking foods. The culinary arts generally refers to food prepared in a professional setting, such as a restaurant, deli, hospital, nursing home, or other business involving food or food service, as opposed to food prepared at home.
Those who work in the culinary arts, including professional chefs and cooks, are expected to have a knowledge of the science of food and an understanding of diet and nutrition and ingredients. They’re expected to prepare food that tastes good but also is pleasing to look at on the dish. They also must master a variety of skills or techniques, such as knife work, menu and meal planning, inventory control, and kitchen management. In addition, they must understand how to keep their work area sanitized to avoid food contamination.
Those interested in the culinary arts sometimes begin their careers through work experience in a kitchen, working their way into better positions as they gain the necessary skills. Aspiring chefs may attend cooking school and can also get a degree in the culinary arts.
The ascendance of television shows like those available on the Food Network, as well as network shows like Master Chef, have highlighted the culinary arts while propelling chefs like Gordon Ramsay, and Rachael Rayto celebrity status.
