Culinary Schools in New York City

Want to take a bite of the Big Apple? As the most populous city in the US, New York City might be one of the most ideal places for culinary students to establish roots. With so many mouths to feed, the city is home to thousands of restaurants, food stands, drinking establishments and more, all catering to a diverse population. From restaurants to street vendors, from large companies creating iconic foods to picnics in Central Park, good food is a celebrated part of NYC's past, present and future. Graduates of culinary schools in New York City can look forward to becoming a part of something great.

Famous restaurants in New York City

Food lovers can rejoice in New York City, where they can find virtually anything they wish to dine upon, including the famous staples: hot dogs with all the toppings, Manhattan clam chowder, pizza, bagels, pastrami, and much more, all served up "New York style." Easy-to-eat street foods, as well as Jewish cuisine, are also quite common in NYC. As a center of culinary pleasures, the city is home to numerous celebrity chefs and their upscale restaurants, including those headed by Guy Fieri and Bobby Flay. Many celebrities work behind the scenes and own hot restaurants in town -- a few examples include Hugh Jackman (Laughing Man Coffee and Tea), Justin Timberlake (Southern Hospitality) and Jay-Z (The Spotted Pig).

While it's almost impossible to come up with a comprehensive list of the iconic NYC food spots, here is just a taste of some of our favorite places to eat:

• Grand Central Oyster Bar: This great place launched in 1913, but didn't become a haven for seafood lovers until 1974. Today, the iconic dish is the oyster pan roast, which brings in locals and tourists alike.
• Pete's Tavern: Opened in 1864, this busy bar lasted through Prohibition by becoming a speakeasy. Though the drinks are obviously the main attraction, the history and the awesome pub food make the trip even more worthwhile.
• Delmonico's: Started in 1837 in the Financial District, this bar and grill claims to be "America's First Restaurant." The first eggs Benedict was served here, as was the first Baked Alaska.
• Katz's Delicatessen: This Jewish deli is well-known for mile-high pastrami, as well as hot dogs and matzo ball soup. For pop culture lovers, it's also where scenes from Where Harry Met Sally were filmed.

Opening a restaurant in New York can be a daunting proposition; in 2011, it was estimated that eighty percent of restaurants in the state failed within the first five years, according to Business Insider. Given that high rate of closure, those who graduate from culinary schools in New York City might do well to broaden their focus in such a way that they can prepare numerous different types of cuisine or step into a variety of roles in the restaurant and hospitality industry.

New York City culinary schools & career outlook

In 2013, there were 44,580 eating and drinking establishments in the state of New York, and according to 2010 Census data, almost 8,000 of those establishments could be found in New York City. They all contribute to the $35.8 billion in sales expected through New York restaurants in 2015. Here are the 2014 wages for those in the restaurant industry in New York City, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Chefs and head cooks: $54,910
• Restaurant cooks: $27,890
• Bartenders: $26,050
• Waiters or waitresses: $27,470
• First-line supervisors: $40,590

How is the career outlook for those who graduate from culinary schools? Projections Central offers these numbers for those in the culinary business in New York state.

• Bartenders: 27.9%
• Chefs and head cooks: 15.8%
• Restaurant cooks: 31.4%
• Waiters or waitresses: 20.2%
• First-line supervisors: 26.2%

The majority of restaurant industry workers are those who are just starting out; the National Restaurant Association pointed out that 41 percent of the total workforce is under the age of 25, and 28 percent of them are students. Given those numbers, it is safe to say that the restaurant atmosphere in New York City is welcoming, embracing students of culinary schools who are looking to begin a fresh new career.

Sources:

• "25 Classic Restaurants Every New Yorker Must Try," New York Eater, January 26, 2015, Marguerite Preston, http://ny.eater.com/maps/classic-restaurants
• "80% Fail Rate: Meet 13 of the Many New York City Restaurants that Closed Last Year," Business Insider, August 8, 2011, Patricia Laya, http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-restaurants-fail-rate-2011-8
• "Celebrity Restaurants in NYC," The Travel Channel, Emily Epstein White, http://www.travelchannel.com/destinations/us/ny/new-york-city/articles/celebrity-restaurants-in-nyc
• Long Term Occupational Projections, New York, Projections Central, https://www.projectionscentral.com/Projections/LongTerm
• "Lot More 'Bites' Out of Apple," New York Post, August 14, 2011, Heather Hadden, http://nypost.com/2011/08/14/lot-more-bites-out-of-apple/
• May 2014 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division, Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_35644.htm#35-0000
• "New York's Ban on Big Sodas is Rejected by Final Court," The New York Times, June 26, 2014, Michael M. Grynbaum, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/27/nyregion/city-loses-final-appeal-on-limiting-sales-of-large-sodas.html?_r=0
• "NYC proposes high sodium warning for chain restaurants," KSDK.com/USAToday, June 10, 2015, Hadley Malcolm, http://www.ksdk.com/story/life/food/2015/06/10/nyc-proposes-high-sodium-warning-for-chain-restaurants/71002660/
• State Statistics: New York, National Restaurant Association, http://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/State-Statistics/2015/NY_Restaurants2015
• "Will a N.Y. wage hike hurt YOUR business?" National Restaurant Association, June 9, 2015, http://www.restaurant.org/News-Research/News/Will-a-New-York-wage-hike-hurt-YOUR-business