101 Things I Learned™ in Culinary School
That’s it, end of description.
And you know what? I think it’s great. Sure, I already know a lot of what was in it. But I picked up a few new things, too. And I learned the “why” behind a few more. As far as I’m concerned, anything that teaches me something new about a subject I care about is worth the time.
Not that it’s going to take a long time for this one. I’m not sure I should mention this, but this is the perfect book for the home reading room. Meaning the magazine basket you keep in the bathroom. (You do keep a magazine basket in the bathroom, don’t you?)
You can pick it up for five minutes, get a quick lesson or two, and put it back down. And when you’re done with it, you can pass it along to someone else who will enjoy it just as much.
Which is what I’m about to do.
Book giveaway
Leave a comment below saying whether you’d be interested in going to culinary school. Thursday night, May 27th at 11 p.m. Eastern, I’ll pick one at random and send them the book. Make sure you leave your email with the comment so I can contact you if you win.
Want more like this? For more recipes like this, that you can hold right in your hands, and write on, take notes, tear pages out if you want (Gosh, you're tough on books, aren't you?) you might be interested in How To Cook Like Your Grandmother, 2nd edition, Illustrated. Or to learn your way around the kitchen, check out Starting From Scratch: The Owner's Manual for Your Kitchen.
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76 Comments
I would love to go and learn to be a pastry chef! I love making sweet treats.
No. It would put me in a serious debt to go that I doubt I could pay back with a chef-related job. I’d rather self-learn from books or other sources. Plus I don’t want to work weekends and holidays.
I am very interested in going to culinary school. I would love to expand what I know how to do. I have a dream of opening a small bakery, but I feel like I have a LOT to learn first!
I’m starting culinary school this fall!
Very excited!!!
Nope. I cook and learn about cooking for the sheer delight of it.
I wouldn’t want to go to culinary school because I’m too free-spirited to be tied down to such a commitment, but I have always told people around me that I’d like to take some classes in certain subjects such as preparing fish and vegetarian courses. Been looking at the Western Reserve Classes in Hudson and Sur La Table next to Trader Joe’s. Great giveaway!
I love to sharpen my technique and learn new skills. This sounds like a great book for that.
As someone who is entirely self-taught and always wants to know the why, I would love to go to culinary school. It’s kind of expensive since I’m not planning on making a career of it. If I was a lottery winner? Heck yeah.
I would like to go to culinary school, precisely to learn these sorts of basic techniques. I love my mom dearly, but I never knew until I got into cooking how much easier it was to chop onions by leaving half the root on each side while you dice. Little things make all the difference! And I’m a visual learner, so I love that it has illustrations as well.
No, I don’t want to go to culinary school. I’m not even sure I’d want to take classes. I truly enjoy reading (or watching TV) and learning about cooking.
I would LOVE to… however there are no schools around me now and I have 5 little ones to take care of.
I’ve been cooking for 40 years, but being self-taught I think I would really benefit from culinary school. There’s so much I don’t know that would really help my skills!
Culinary school wouldn’t suit me well, as my specialties begin and end at toast, pasta, cookie dough and banana cinnamon bread. But my youngest brother is contemplating it as a possible direction. He has a knack for things in the kitchen and loves to experiment, much to the delight of his family.
If I win the book giveaway, I’ll be reading the book and passing it on to him next!
I like to “doodle” as my sister calls it when I cook. I don’t think this would go over well at culinary school. (It doesn’t always go over well with my family either, but I don’t pay them!!)
Plus I have a friend who went to school for Hospitality management and he passes on kitchen tips. My favorite tip, salt and pepper on your lettuce salads makes a huge difference
Hi! I am an aspiring food blogger (I say aspiring because I have a blog, just not a first post yet!). I would LOVE to go to culinary school. I love food and cooking. If life didn’t get in the way, I would spend A LOT more time cooking. I would love to have this book. As a young cook, I know there is a lot for me to learn. Thank you!
Kayla
I would like to go to learn, but not so much to be a professional chef of any type. I love cooking as a hobby, but I don’t think I would like it as a job.
i am a nurse but i am positive i was a chef in my previous life!! i would love to go to culinary school – in fact that is the plan for 2011.
I’d love to go for the experience rather than with any professional aspirations. I cook following the “food is love” motto for my friends and family.
I’d rather learn from books and friends more experienced than I am…my boyfriend would love to though!
I would absolutely love to go to culinary school; it’s been a lifelong dream. I sometimes wish someone would threaten me at gunpoint and force me to do it, like in Fight Club. Until then, I consider recipe books and blogs (this one!) as my education.
-Jennifer
Culinary school would be a dream, but part of me wonders if it would negate that sheer amateur enthusiasm that I have for cooking. Has anybody else ever felt that way? I think I would rather keep my cooking as a hobby (best hobby in the world, as far as I’m concerned!).
So, short story long, I don’t think I would. I would love to take some baking classes though!
I don’t think I would want to go to culinary school. I love the job I have now (non-culinary) and wouldn’t be interested in switching careers, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to invest the time, effort, and funds into culinary school when I’d be just going back to my home kitchen and cooking for fun. I have a feeling it would be like my knitting–it’s great to do for myself or for gifts, but it’s harder to make myself work on a piece for sale. Besides, I would no longer be able to claim ignorance as an excuse for my mistakes if I had an actual culinary education!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I’d love to go to culinary school; however, my budget doesn’t allow it. I love to learn new cooking techniques and try new recipes. Reading books and magazine and watching Foodnetwork will have to do for now. ~Dana
i grew up in a kitchen, but my skills are definitely trial and error….. i would love to go to culinary school and refine those skills!!
I don’t think I’d want to… I love cooking and learning new things, but I like to be home with my husband. I don’t want to work nights, weekends, holidays…
If I could have a little coffee shop/bookstore thing, though, I’d be all for it!
(chantilita at gmail dot com)
After reading all the comments, I’m torn.
I never actually thought I’d want to go to Cooking School until your brought it up, Drew. As a mother of 4 kids under 9, cooking IS my passion. Well, when I can. I am very fortunate that my kids are mostly amenable to what’s put on their plate, and they are often rewarded with some of the best kid-friendly cuisine and desserts in town!
On the other hand… I have no plans to cook professionally, so I’ll just wait to win (fingers-crossed!) this book and pick up 101 more tips instead of School.
Sounds like a plan!
I meant until YOU brought it up.. not YOUR!
Oops!
I think Culinary school would be pretty interesting, but I couldn’t afford it just to go for fun… And that’s what it would be for me, fun. I love to cook, though I’m never sure I’m very good at it, and love to experiment when I can. Learning new techniques would be a great thing for me.
If I was 18, yes!
At this point, not so much. But I love to learn and pick up tidbits about cooking.
I would love to go to culinary school… if I could retire early, that’s what I certainly would do.
I am actually considering going to school for pastry arts! Can’t wait!
Don’t know if I’d actually want to go to school, but would love to thumb through the book
My husband and I would love to go to culinary school. We have attended several cooking classes together and enjoy cooking together. I think we would benefit a lot from this book.
I would love to go to Culinary School, but I have learned a lot through reading/doing and I don’t know if I really need more school (and the debt that goes with it).
I’ve always thought I’d like to go, but in reality, I have 3 small children, I wouldn’t want to be away from my family for not only the school, but then the evenings and weekends working in a restaurant. For now I’m content to be at home w/ my family and cooking and baking for them. I occasionally sell some baked goods to folks, but it’s a very informal arrangement. Maybe someday….
I would love to learn all of the things that I could learn at culinary school. However, I am a homeschooling mom of 6 who is trying to get out of debt, so that is a little bit of a stretch for me. My kids and I love to cook and we are learning as much about cooking as we can from books, blogs, and tv.
I would *love* to go to culinary school. Sadly, affording it is an entirely different question.
I’ve always said to myself, someday, perhaps in my retirement days, I’d love to attend a cooking school.
No magazine rack in the bathroom – but a stack of books on the back of the toilet. LOL
I’m probably too old to go to culinary school…although given the opportunity (and money), I would anyway.
There’s always a few older ladies in those classes! Don’t let that discourage you
Gosh, why is this such a tough question to answer for me?
I do have daydreams about taking classes at a culinary school…so, yes, I would like to go to culinary school. On the other hand, school can sometimes suck the joy out of things, and I do love cooking and find great joy in it. Learning along the way, experimenting, and being the captain of my kitchen are things I relish. Plus, I cannot see myself cooking as a career–it is more of a serious hobby for me. I love cooking, I love learning, and I love sharing how to cook with others. I guess if I went to school, bringing money (student loans, debt, grades) into the picture would undermine some of this enthusiasm I have for helping people via cooking for no financial compensation in return. So, in a nutshell, yes, please send me off to culinary school and let me go over some of the basics and have my pick of classes. It would be terrific to have the time and funds to drop in, over the years, for cooking classes. In the meantime, though, I’ll keep on cooking so that when I ever do get to take these classes I’ll have a great deal of knowledge and experience that can, hopefully, enhance what I learn in a formal classroom and help me get the most of time at a culinary school.
I would go to culinary school in a heart beat if I could afford to quit my job and take the time. Someday when my husband makes enough money and my future kids are in school, I’ll go.
I would love to know more of the basics, but would never work the hours they work. The book would be a fun, informative read.
I’d love to go to cooking school if it weren’t so extravagant to go and then not go to work in the industry. (I love to cook, but it’s what I want and when I want to.) Being able to get a few tips and tricks without the expense of school (again) would be fabulous!
I actually went to culinary school
I didn’t finish it, however, as I’ve discovered that cooking is more of a (cool) hobby. I signed up for university, and got admitted!
The class, though, was only a year long and it felt rushed. I’m sure the book would be good to learn new things, and a few reminders through the vast ocean of knowledge that was dumped on us!
I’d love to go to Culinary School, but I could never be a chef!
Yes!!! If I were to follow my heart, I’d be in culinary school right this second! Sadly, things are a little more complicated than that. But I’ll take any kind of education I can get!
Culinary school in 101 pages? Sign me up!
I’d love to go to culinary school.
I love cooking, but I hate having to cook…
Sure! ‘ceptin’ that I might be able to teach them a thing or two.. like butchering from when its standing in the field until its in the freezer! Also I think if any of them chefs when all “H*ll’s Kitchen Gordan” on me I’d have to give ‘em a good old fashion redneck beat down. Well.. come to think of it I don’t think I’d be a very good candidate
But I’d still love the book!
In my fantasy world, I’d love to go and learn what they teach, especially pastries. In real life, it wouldn’t be practical. But it’s a fun dream.
I would love to go to culinary school but I think I would slice myself up! I’m so clumsy with the knives.
I would love to go to culinary school, but it’s a bit out of my reach. I’ve been taking classes through the county extension instead. Right now I’m taking food preservation class – I have a couple quarts of apple pie filling in my water bath canner, and later I’m going to can some half-pints of radish relish – homework, so to speak! I love learning new things about cooking and preserving
I’d love to attend culinary school – so I could learn lots of things, like what cut of beef is the best for which application, which spices taste good with what, and how to quickly prep veggies – seems that’s what takes me the longest to do while cooking!
Maybe I’ll win the book and at least get a kick start on some of those wishes!
I’d love to go to culinary school. Not so much for a job, just because I’d love to know more. Then I could cook fun things for my family.
Technically I’ve already been to a culinary school. One of the best in the country. Johnson & Wales University. Alumni include Emeril LaGasse, Tyler Florence, Chris Constantino and Aaron Sanchez. And a few more. I did say “technically” right? Well, while those guys were in the School of Culinary Arts, I was in the School of Technology. Computers & programming. Not so much on the cooking. I will say the dining halls were interesting. Culinary students worked in them as part of their classwork. The biggest joke was that they learn flavor in the 3rd year and only 2nd years worked in the dining halls. It was a great experience, but knowing what I know now, I would have tried to get into a few of the cooking classes. Or at least a mixology class or 2.
Of course I would LOVE to go to culinary school but with two kids and a full time job…um probably not going to happen. However, I truly enjoy cooking and learning new things. So I read blogs, read books and take classes here or there to learn as much as I can about cooking and baking. I would totally love to win a copy of this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
I too, would love to go to culinary school. Unfortunately, distance is a problem for me. I saw thank goodness for books, blogs and websites.
I’m too old and set in my ways to even consider culinary school! lol If I didn’t learn it from my mom, then I don’t need to know it… but I like knowing more… and more… and especially why!
In another life, I think I would love it.
I’d love to go to culinary school, mainly because I’m at a point in my life where I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m off the tidy academic grindstone track that I’d been on my entire life until it started making me feel unfulfilled and depressed. Now I realize that cooking is one of the things that I’m seriously passionate about, that makes me feel alive, and I’ve become such a rabid foodie that my friends and family are afraid of me whenever I get on the soapbox about milk, or HFCS. At this point I don’t have the money to go to culinary school, but it’s definitely not a pipe dream, since I’m pretty sure (finally!) that this is what I want to do with my life.
Hmmm – I don’t know about pursuing a whole ‘nother degree at a culinary school, but I would definitely love to take several classes! Then again, I’d probably get into it and end up going for the full degree.
I would love to go to culinary school. If I wouldnt be an engineer I would surely be a chef….
Loved your blog. KEep going !
-Suparna
my husband and I have both talked about going to culinary school… not quite some either of us think we could handle with kids. But we can dream about it!
I’d love to go to culinary school for the fun of it, but never had the money.
If I were younger and richer, I’d be there in a twinkling! What a thrill it would be to learn the right way to do things and to use the best of equipment.
By the way, has this book been sitting in YOUR magazine basket in the you-know-where?
love reading your stuff and collecting your recipes – thank so much!
winning this book would make it even better.
I would love to attend culinary school…. but with farm, job & life in general, it has remained illusive. I’ll not give up hope though! In the meantime, the 101 Things I Learned would be a very welcome addition to my cookbook shelf.
Culinary school is an attractive idea, academically speaking (pun intended? You decide!). One year old and somewhat trim finances would rule that out.
If I did go, I’d really like to learn about how to better prepare various ethnic dishes (Indian, West African, middle eastern, etc). It would probably let me use a wider variety of ingredients and learning those techniques would give me more variety in my own kitchen.
That….and I could have Indian food more than once in a bazillion years. That’d be cool.
I’d love to attend some culinary classes but have no desire to be a professional chef.
I would like to go to culinary school, maybe when I retire and start my second life!
I would like to go to culinary school even though the only people I would cook for is friends and family!
I’m not a pro, never will be. I’m a mom who loves to cook and loves to learn new ways to cook better! I wish they had a culinary school for people like me–I’d sign up in a heartbeat.
I’ve definitely thought about culinary school, but think that might be down the road yet, when I’ve been out of big-bad-four-year school longer.
Culinary School would be a dream! But like many others, I wouldn’t want to be a professional chef, just cook for my family.
I’ve always dreamed of going to cooking school! Although I do not want to discredit my Grandma and Mother who I learned so much!