Culinary Arts Schools in Connecticut
It might be the nation's third-smallest state, but Connecticut packs culinary star power and myriad top-notch restaurants into its small space. Following culinary school, budding chefs have a chance to participate in all that this state has to offer. In the high-density cities of Bridgeport, Greenwich, Hartford, New Haven and New London, a mix of upscale restaurants and family eateries cater to a wide range of customers. Culinary retreats, where guests combine luxurious vacations with culinary instruction, are a major trend. New England cuisine revolves around fresh seafood and dairy, and Connecticut is no exception. The New Haven-style pizza, known around town as apizza, is a local staple. The city of New Haven is also the birthplace of the most American of all dishes: hamburgers! Louis's Lunch, established in 1895, claims that they were the first to serve them -- ever. Chefs wanting to work on their wine pairings can mark the Connecticut Wine and Food Festival, a must for foodies and wine lovers in Hartford, on their November calendar.
Connecting Employment and a Career: Connecticut Culinary Schools
According to May 2011 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, head cooks and chefs working in Connecticut earned mean annual wages of $51,160. The state has one of the highest concentrations of chefs and head cooks in the nation, and it's no surprise: in 2010, there were more than 7,100 eating and dining places in Connecticut, according to research from the National Restaurant Association.
Many "ingredients" go into making a great chef: hard work, dedication and the right professional connections among them. While a formal degree in the culinary arts is not needed to succeed in the food-and-beverage world, it could prove beneficial in obtaining the position you covet. Have a look at the list of culinary schools in Connecticut and nearby to get started at perfecting your cooking techniques.
Additional Resources for Connecticut Culinary Students
The "birthplace' of the hamburger: Louis's Lunch
Bureau of Labor Statistics lists career information for chefs and head cooks
National Restaurant Association shares some quick facts on Connecticut restaurants
Browse These Connecticut Culinary Schools to Get Started!
This list also contains online schools that accept students from Connecticut.
Set your career in motion at Virginia College Online.
- Online
- AAS - Culinary and Pastry Arts
Advance your career with our affordable, self-paced, career-focused distance education programs.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
- Caterer
Earn Your Diploma from Home!
- Online
- Cooking and Catering
Kaplan University is focused on recognizing the achievements of military and veteran students and offers the flexibility of an online education.
- Online
- AAS in Business Administration - Hospitality Management
Your creativity is a big part of who you are and where you’re going. To take it, and your future, as far as you want, you need an education that’s focused on developing your talents and putting you on the path toward the creative career that stirs your imagination. A collaborative education at The Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur, a branch of The Art Institute of Atlanta, is all about the work, the students who create it, and the instructors who guide them.
The first step is to explore these areas of study, and think about where you fit in an industry that runs on ideas.
- Online
- Hotel & Restaurant Management (BS)
- Culinary Management (BS)
Earn your degree or diploma on your schedule and succeed at Ashworth College.
- Online
- Hotel/Restaurant Management
Other Connecticut Culinary Schools
| School Name | City or Town | Programs Offered |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester Community College | Manchester | Culinary Arts, A.S. Degree |
| Lincoln Culinary Institute | Shelton | Culinary Arts |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College | Waterbury | Culinary Arts |
| Saint Joseph College | West Hartford | Food Service |
| University of New Haven | West Haven | Hotel & Restaurant Management |
