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 Top Connecticut Culinary Schools to Get Started!

Note: This list also contains schools that accept culinary students from Connecticut.

Institute of Culinary Education

Get your culinary career cooking at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City.

Programs:

Culinary Arts
Pastry & Baking Arts
Culinary Management

Campus Locations:

New York

Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America

Bring Your Fire to the Plate. Le Cordon Bleu. Learn the Way.

Programs:

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta - Certificate in Culinary Arts
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Minneapolis/St. Paul - Certificate in Culinary Arts
Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Scottsdale - Certificate in Culinary Arts

Campus Locations:

Lincoln Culinary Institute

Turn your passion for cooking into a career with Lincoln Culinary Institute.

For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo

Programs:

Culinary Arts

Campus Locations:

Shelton

Salter College

Enrich your life and advance your career with a liberal arts education from Salter College.

Programs:

Culinary Arts

Campus Locations:

West Boylston

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