Diploma in Culinary Arts

What is a Diploma in Culinary Arts?

The human love for good food is almost equal to that of a dedicated lover. Long gone are the days when food was just a basic necessity and a survival instinct. Food today is no less than art. The plate becomes a canvas of delicate bright colors put together in different shapes forming a painting. So that the diner cannot help but stare at it for a good five minutes to take all the beauty in. But what goes behind the making of a perfect delectable dish requires the knowledge and skill of the science and art of culinary. It is for this reason that Culinary Arts as a course is gaining more importance by the day.

Culinary arts is the art of preparation and presentation of a meal. It is the art of cooking in its most basic sense but involves a range of skills from creativity to time management to cooking skills. With more and more restaurants and hotels popping up every day, the demand for chefs is on a steady rise. This combined with the globalization of cuisines has created a need for imparting professional skills and knowledge about culinary arts. Chefs and head caterers are not only restricted to the kitchen but in fact, are traveling the world these days to find newer dishes and food techniques. Today, cooking is not just a passion but a full-grown well paid professional field anyone can make a career in. A Diploma in Culinary Arts is just the right option for you if you want to explore the world of food and hone your cooking skills.

Highlights

Eligibility Criteria for Diploma in Culinary Arts

• Students who have successfully passed their 10+2 are eligible for pursuing a course in culinary arts.

• Students can be from any stream.

• Students are required to have a basic level of communication skills.

Diploma in Culinary Arts Admission

Different admission procedures apply to students enrolling in Diploma in Culinary Arts courses, depending on the school. College admissions are based on a first-come, first-served basis. Some universities admit students to Diploma in Culinary Arts programmes on the basis of merit or a cut-off score on an admission exam, while others do not. You must complete the following requirements and go through the following admission process to pursue a Diploma in Culinary Arts:

Admission process

• Minimum age for application is 18.

• Students should have passed their 10+2 from a recognised board.

• Students might have to appear for an interview after the application.

• Some colleges may have an entrance exam to shortlist students.

Cutoff of top colleges

A cut-off score for the Diploma in Culinary Arts is a set of criteria used to evaluate a student's merit or test performance. The Diploma in Culinary Arts cutoff, which varies from institution to college, is determined by qualifying examinations and the number of applicants who appear for the admission examination.

Diploma in Culinary Arts Skills Required

There is a range of skills required for a culinary course. Most skills are very kitchen specific in nature given the course itself. Even if students do not have fine culinary skills upon joining the course, they learn them throughout their diploma. A love for cooking is what is required at the very beginning of the course although having a set of basic skills is definitely an advantage. Given below are some of the skills required:

• Hospitality

• Culinary Management

• Organization

• Cooking Skills

• Decision-making skills

• Commitment

• Creativity

• Dedication

• Politeness

• Safety and sanitation

• Multitasking

• Time Management

• Crisis Management

Diploma in Culinary Arts Syllabus

The course plan for the Culinary Arts program is very comprehensive in nature. It equips students with all the necessary skills and training they require to pursue a career in the field. The curriculum is filled with a lot of practical classes which gives them hands-on experience. Following are some of the subjects covered in the course:

Diploma in Culinary Arts Fees Structure and Details:

The fee structure for this course varies across universities. As there are mostly private universities offering this course, it might seem a little expensive but the average fee is somewhere between Rs. 60,000 to Rs.1 lakh. As this is a diploma course, the fees charged are only for a year.

Given below is a list of some of the colleges which offer the course along with their annual fees:

Private Colleges

Minimum Fees: Rs. 90,000/- approximately

Maximum Fees: Rs. 13 lakhs approximately

Government Colleges

Minimum Fees: Rs.55,000/- approximately

Maximum Fees: Rs.65,000/- approximately

Scope of Diploma in Culinary Arts

The world of Culinary Arts is seeing some growing changes in recent times, which is changing kitchens across the world. This change is also being incorporated in the education part of it. With veganism gaining high popularity, vegan dishes are being explored and included in restaurant menus. Students are learning about various vegan as well as gluten-free dishes to serve their customers well.

Sustainability too is becoming an important part of the culinary industry. Many restaurants are adopting newer techniques to make sustainable changes in their food practice. These sustainable practices will only grow in the future to accommodate environment friendliness.

One of the biggest factors of change in the Culinary Arts industry has been the advent of social media. With people posting aesthetic pictures of their food and food bloggers gaining popularity, food presentation has gained great importance. This has led to the demand for Food Stylists in the hotel industry.

Career option after Diploma in Culinary Arts

Chef: Chefs are involved with everything that revolves around preparation of a perfect meal. They train and command their kitchen staff, plan menus, ensure safety standards in the kitchen and maintain the food quality delivered. They work around the clock to manage the kitchen and serve the very best to their diners.

Food Stylist: Food stylists have been gaining popularity in recent times. As the influence of social media has reached the food we consume, food styling has become a very important aspect in high profile restaurants and hotels. A food stylist ensures that the food presented is both creative and attractive to the diner.

Catering Manager: A catering manager handles the planning and administrative part of an organization. They organize meals for various events such as corporate parties and weddings. Their work is challenging as well as exciting as they get to work in different kinds of settings. They are good at multitasking and are responsible for the clean execution of catering.

Catering Officer: A catering officer assists the kitchen staff in maintaining presentation and efficiency. They are responsible for serving guests, setting up equipment, managing silverware and crockery. They are usually quick on their feet and highly efficient.

Dietitian: This is one of the most popular and in-demand job roles in the field of Culinary. As people are getting more and more diet conscious, they require a personal diet plan. This is where a nutritionist comes in. They customize a menu according to the client's dietary history and health conditions to help them reach their body goals or acquire a healthy lifestyle. Many celebrities, sportspersons etc have their own personal nutritionist.

Restaurant manager: restaurant managers oversee the business performance of a restaurant. They analyse sales and apply new strategies for the growth of the place. They need to have good communication skills as well as crisis management skills as they frequently address customer issues.

Benefits of studying Diploma in Culinary Arts

The major goal is to provide students with superior culinary abilities, as well as entrepreneurship and management knowledge. This course is designed for individuals who enjoy cooking while also wanting to pursue a more business-oriented career path. It's all about collaborating with customers and coworkers to ensure that the restaurant or food service operation runs well. Students with this course are in high demand, whether in hotels, restaurants, food corporations, or a variety of other culinary-related environments.

Expected salary

Upon completion of this course, students can expect their salary anywhere between Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 5 lakhs per annum. Culinary Arts students usually work as trainees starting out and then gradually work their way up the ladder. While many start out working in a hotel or restaurant to gain experience, they eventually open their own restaurant too. In such cases, their income is usually high if their business does well. Head chefs and Head caterers also enjoy a good salary which comes along with their level of authority.

Given below are some of the jobs with their expected salary:

*The salary figures in this article are just for reference. Please take them as such only.

List of top Diploma in Culinary Arts colleges in India

In India, there are many educational institutes that provide Diploma in Culinary Arts programmes. Entrance is based on prior academic achievements and admission test scores. The following are the leading universities and institutes in India that provide a Diploma in Culinary Arts:

Top private Diploma in Culinary Arts colleges in India

A Diploma in Culinary Arts is offered by a number of private institutes in India. A private university education is much more expensive than a public university education. The following are some of the best private universities for a Diploma in Culinary Arts: