When the term “culinary arts” is used, what does it actually mean? Your first thought is likely a chef in a restaurant who works to prepare food for eager customers. Although this is part of the culinary arts, there is much more to the topic than simply cooking.
Breaking apart the term, culinary means “related to cooking” and arts refers to any broad area of interest. So, put simply, culinary arts are the arts of preparing, cooking, presenting and serving food. This may often be in the form of meals in a restaurant, but culinary arts can refer to all professions that involve preparing, cooking and presenting food.
The food and beverage industry is an important part of the overall agriculture industry. You can further split the food and beverage industry into two major segments: production and distribution. Production includes creating and processing foods and beverages of all types - including most packaged or prepared items. The production segment does NOT include foods produced through farming or growing and not further processed as those are simply part of the agriculture industry, by definition.
The food and beverage industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with growth outpacing the economy. While you might think of jobs such as chef, bartender or server, there are in fact many more roles within this dynamic industry.
When you’re comparing different career options, the most important thing is to think about your interests and passions. By choosing a career in a field you are passionate about, you’ll find it much easier to grow and succeed. However, it is vital to look at other details too.
We’ve put together some information regarding food-related careers, giving you a chance to see if this could be a field you’d be interested in pursuing.
To be successful in the world of culinary arts, you will need to know more than just cooking. You will need to master both the culinary and non-culinary skills listed to better prepare you for any type of profession in the culinary industry. But don't stop there. Make sure to choose a Culinary Art degree that includes business and marketing skills also play a vital role along with hospitality skills. They can help you in your future culinary goals and pursuits, whether your goals are to open up your own restaurant one day or to take your unique recipes to the masses.