Culinary arts as career option

Ranjan K Baruah *

Culinary arts, in which culinary means "related to cooking", are the arts of preparation, cooking and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals.

People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called "chefs" or "cooks", although, at its most general, the terms "culinary artist" and "culinarian" are also used. Table manners ("the table arts") are sometimes referred to as a culinary art.

Expert Culinarians are required to have knowledge of food science, nutrition and diet and are responsible for preparing meals that are as pleasing to the eye as well as to the palate. After restaurants, their primary places of work include delicatessens and relatively large institutions such as hotels and hospitals.

With food and cookery shows being a major trend across the world, culinary arts, a sub-domain of the hospitality sector, has now become the most sought after field for an enviable career. This is a field where the age-old bias of gender does not prevail, and men and women alike are proving their worth in creating gastronomically delights.

A culinary art is a prominent part of American history and culture and at present it is important and exciting career around the world. The scope of culinary employment is vast.

Professional cooks work at hotels, restaurants, resorts, casinos, hospitals, and corporate headquarters; and in private homes, aboard yachts, and as vendors on street corners.

Associates Degrees in Culinary Arts are the most often sought programs among committed chef candidates. Aspirants can pursue chef work upon completion of the degree, or use it as a stepping stone to further education. Students learn how to prepare classic dishes in all categories including seafood, meat, banquet, pastries, etc.

Cuisine of various localities is dissected to provide an understanding of Asian, Latin, Mediterranean, American food traditions, etc. Diplomas or Certificates in Culinary Arts deliver culinary technique and skills that are often focused in a particular area of the culinary arts.

There are many institutes in India which provides degree, diplomas and certificate courses related to culinary arts. Students may select on the basis of their qualification and interest and plan their careers in this field. 10+2 or its equivalent is the minimum educational qualification needed for joining any course in the culinary field.

Hotel Management institutes offer these courses and to get admission in reputed and affiliated colleges are through entrance exams. Aspirants must be careful before selecting the institutes because every institute may not have good placement records.

Updates: Chinese Government Scholarship – Interested students or aspirants may apply for Chinese Government Scholarship for 2018-19 which is being offered by the Government of China under Bilateral Programme for pursuing higher studies/research/specialization.

The scholarship is being offered for Undergraduate programs, Master's programs, Doctoral programs, General Scholar program and Senior Scholar programs. The Government of India will bear the International passage cost from India to China and back and aspirants may apply before 4th March for this scholarship.

AIIMS Entrance: Students may apply in the prescribed form through online mode only for the Entrance Examination for admission to the MBBS Course of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and eight other AIIMS (Patna, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Bhubaneshwar, Rishikesh, Raipur, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh) and Nagpur (Maharashtra). Online registrations shall be closed on 5th March.

North Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology – NERIST Entrance Examination (NEE) 2018: Online applications are invited for NERIST Entrance Examination (NEE) 2018 to be conducted for Base Module (Certificate Course), Diploma Module & Degree Module Courses in Technology streams and also Degree Module course in Forestry.

The NEE 2018 shall be conducted for admission at three levels/courses. Students may apply on or before 12th March.