North Carolina Culinary Arts Schools, Baking & Pastry Schools, Hospitality Management Schools

Culinary Schools in North Carolina

North Carolina is a bedrock of southern cuisine, with multiple hotspots for traditional southern fare: barbeque, banana pudding, fried chicken, Cajun-fusion and both Pepsi and Krispy Kreme got their start here. Known for strawberries and blueberries, the state vegetable is the sweet potato. The state is home to numerous food destinations, including Charlotte. In 2016 there were eight semifinalists from North Carolina in the "Best Chef- Southeast" category of the 2016 James Beard Awards, which are widely considered the Oscars of the culinary world. In 2014 there were 11 chefs and restaurateurs who were named semifinalists for James Beard Awards building a solid consensus of what the state can offer. North Carolina is quickly building a reputation for attracting top-flight culinary talent and restaurants, many of which are garnering critical acclaim from Forbes, Wine and Spectator and more. North Carolina’s number one commodity is chicken raised for their meat. North Carolina ranks second in the nation in the production of hogs and pigs, trout and turkeys with just under 53,000 farms.

The culinary industry in North Carolina is a driving force in the state, employing nearly 458,000 individuals, according to the National Restaurant Association. There are more than 18,000 eating and dining establishments in North Carolina that produce approximately $18 billion in annual sales. Those are impressive statewide numbers and at the local level, the largest opportunities are concentrated in metropolitan areas like Charlotte, Raleigh-Cary, and Greensboro. These areas employ a total of 5,600 individuals as chefs, bakers and restaurant managers, respectively. Statewide chefs and head cooks see an average wage of $49,000; bakers $22,000 and food service managers $57,000.

There are 20 schools that offer culinary training in North Carolina. For many, becoming a chef begins with attending a culinary school and North Carolina’s schooling options are numerous from a culinary school could set the groundwork for taking part in an apprenticeship or rolling up your sleeves to join a newly launched restaurant. Within the culinary field in North Carolina, there are four main educational and professional concentrations that you can choose: Culinary Arts, Culinary Management, Baking and Pastry Arts, and Hospitality Management. In the Culinary Arts program for example, you’ll gain practical experience in the kitchen while studying the business of cost control, sanitation and safety, menu and beverage management, nutrition, and kitchen management. You’ll learn to produce food quickly and in quantity while working with others. Graduates are prepared to seek entry-level employment such as line cooks and pantry cook.

As North Carolina continues to attract attention to its culinary industry, garners new culinary investments, and has restaurateurs pushing the proverbial envelope, the state should be an appealing option for prospective students considering attending a culinary school here. Although the culinary scene is competitive in Charlotte, culinary schools can help students gain the needed kitchen skills to launch into the local food scene.