One point any culinary school is likely to sell you on is that the restaurant business is one that is growing and that you'll find a job.

But does this hold true during our economic recession?

I've read that restaurant jobs are available even if business is slower. On the other hand, I hear some classmates at school who say they're not getting enough hou... Read More

I read a recent study about the nutritional quality of some popular foods that are known to be a healthier option.  It was surprising to see that a fast-food hamburger might be better to eat than a bowl of fresh pasta, and that a cup of ice cream is better than a cup of sorbet.

About a year ago, the U.S. government rearranged the food pyramid to make vegetabl... Read More

Not only a few years ago gluten intolerance, or celiacs disease, was almost an unheard of disease.  Within the last five years the number of people diagnosed and living with celiacs disease has risen to over 3 million (National Institute of Health).  This has made the popularity of gluten-free bakeries soar throug... Read More

I admit I have a problem: I'm obsessed with kitchen gadgets and cookbooks.

So I'll ask you guys for advice: Which tools can't you live without in the kitchen? And which cookbooks do you swear by?

My food writer friends can't keep new cookbooks sent their way, so my library has everything from the foods of southwest France to "cooking beyond the Great Wal... Read More

In the kitchen, everyone has their own style of cooking and the way that they want their kitchen to be run.  I am not just talking about professional chefs.  You might be the kind of person that only has one fork, one spoon, one knife, and orders to-go food everyday.  You might be the kind of person that has every little kitchen gadgets and appliances that you coul... Read More

When you attend college at Johnson and Wales, regardless of what degree you are pursuing, taking classes in leadership and management is required to graduate.  When you are a freshman/ first year student you take a class called career management.  Career management is a class to basically get you started to begin your career when you get out of college.  The class ... Read More

For a food lover, there aren't many better cities to live in than New York.

But for a student on a tight budget, four-star restaurants like Per Se, Masa or Daniel are out of question. Fortunately, New York offers something for everyone's pocket book.

A few times a year, however, a number of respected restaurants participate in Restaurant Week. These week... Read More

Last Friday marked a big milestone for my classmates and me: We passed the stressful midterm exam.

Our class of 21 students had to cook either consommé and beef bourguignon or a sea bass "en papillote" and apple tart.

After my disasters practicing the tart dough, I prayed that I wouldn't draw it and the fish dish (which is particularly scary becau... Read More

It's not unusual to cook complicated dishes in culinary school. So far we've delivered such French classics as beef burgundy, consommé and cream puffs.

But when it comes to the true measure of a chef's skills, there's one seemingly pedestrian dish he or she is judged by: the omelet.

How difficult can it be? You just mix some eggs, throw in a pan t... Read More

In this pork-crazy age, it's no surprise that hot dogs are enjoying a culinary renaissance. New Yorkers in particular have a wide variety of options to select among, from an upscale Kobe beef dog at David Burke to a steaming frank from a sidewalk stand. I've always been a fan of the traditional ballpark preparation (ketchup, mustard and relish in a bun), but a chef i... Read More