| Culinary
Career Opportunities in California If you're
interested in a culinary career, California is a great place
to begin your search. Home to many renowned culinary institutes
and degree programs, California has over 80,000 food service
establishments and is headquarters to 67 chain restaurants,
more than any other state in the country.
Culinary
Careers
California
is an ideal location to begin your culinary career, because
there are a variety of job options within the culinary community.
If you enjoy creating delicious meals you could work as a
chef in one of California's vibrant restaurants or prepare
food for tastings at a Napa Valley winery. If you dream of
seeing your name in lights, you could pursue a career as a
food stylist or photographer in Hollywood or offer your services
as a personal chef or caterer to the stars.
Job
Outlook
According
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for chefs, food
preparation workers, and food service employees are expected
to increase as fast as average, while jobs for food service
managers are expected to grow 15% by 2014.
With California's
Central Valley acting as a major agricultural supplier, the
culinary industry in the state is booming. Major cities such
as Los Angeles, San Hose, Long Beach, San Diego, and San Francisco
offer outdoor dining and meals made with the freshest ingredients.
If you have a passion for great food and dining experiences,
California may be the perfect place to begin a culinary career.
Baking
and Pastry Arts Opportunities in California
Eat
Dessert First
Baking
and pastry arts are a sensual specialization of the culinary
industry, focusing on taste, texture, and presentation. If
you're interested in a career in baking and pastry arts, California
provides unique opportunities. With a thriving agricultural
industry, California provides bakers with fresh ingredients,
especially fruits, nuts, and dairy products. As a major center
of entertainment, talented and ambitious bakers may prepare
cakes and pastries for the stars as wedding cake artists,
personal chefs, or caterers.
California
Specialties
California
is well known for it's fresh local produce, a perk for any
serious baker. The region's dishes are also heavily influenced
by southwestern palates. Since 1852, San Francisco has been
the home of Ghiradelli Chocolate Company, and the state remains
a haven for both chocolate enthusiasts and chocolatiers.
Baking
Trends
Smart
bakers and pastry chefs keep an eye on the latest trends,
and California is a place where trends are created. One current
culinary craze is experimental baking, which takes a more
scientific approach to the creation of baked good. Chefs prepare
multiple batches of the same dish, making tiny variations
in ingredients, cooking times, and temperatures, with a goal
of attaining culinary perfection. Another current trend is
toward organic and sustainable foods, which many California
farmers and chefs have been advocating for years.
California
has a lively culinary community, with numerous culinary schools
and some of the world's best vineyards and restaurants. The
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects jobs for chefs to
increase as fast as average, and California is the perfect
place to begin your career in baking or pastry arts.
Hospitality
and Restaurant Management Opportunities in California
Restaurant
Mecca
If you're
interested in a career in hospitality and restaurant management,
California is the perfect place to begin. According to the
California Restaurant Association, the state has over 80,000
food service units with over 960,000 employees. At least 7%
of Californians work in the restaurant industry, and in 2004,
consumers spent more money at restaurants than they did at
supermarkets. The California restaurant industry is booming,
with plenty of opportunities for hospitality and restaurant
managers.
Responsible
Restaurants
California
is known as a state that leads the country in trends, and
its agricultural industry has made California restaurants
popular for serving fresh and healthy meals. California also
leads the industry in restaurant responsibility, with nine
out of ten restaurants involved in charitable giving. Combine
that with California's emphasis on nutritious, organic ingredients,
and California emerges as a culinary community with a conscience.
Job
Outlook
In 2004,
6,384 new restaurants opened in California, more than anywhere
else in the nation. California also leads the states with
67 headquarters for chain restaurants, great providers of
management opportunities. As the number of dining establishments
in California grows, so will the opportunities for management
positions.
The U.S.
Department of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in food
service management will increase 15% by 2014. While hospitality
and restaurant management are challenging careers and the
restaurant business can be risky, California is the perfect
place to put your skills to the test and begin your management
career.
Why
a Culinary Career in California
California
Culinary Community
In the
culinary world, California is a center of innovative food
and fresh ingredients. The perfect place to begin a culinary
career, California offers open-air markets, and local, organic
produce to both diners and chefs. With its moderate climate
and scenic coastline, California chefs have the opportunity
to create memorable outdoor dining experiences for locals
and tourists.
Agricultural
Assets
Agriculture
is a California's largest industry, fueling both the restaurant
industry and the state's economy. Fruits and nuts make up
25% of the state's agricultural income, while vegetables account
for another 25%. California chefs have access to farm fresh
grapes, oranges, peaches, avocados, almonds, and pistachios.
In addition to delicious produce, California also leads the
way in developing sustainable agricultural systems, which
aim to protect and renew the environment while improving the
availability of food and generating revenue for farmers.
California
Specialties
California
is also known for its delicious culinary specialties. Because
of its large Mexican-American population, Baja-style food
is popular in the area. California is home to the headquarters
of 67 chain restaurants, and the homegrown California Pizza
Kitchen now has 180 locations worldwide. The restaurant has
embraced California ideals by preparing healthier pizza in
an open flame oven. The state is friendly to job seekers,
as 6,384 new restaurants opened in 2004, more than in any
other state.
California
has a lot to offer if you're considering pursuing a culinary
career—a gorgeous setting, plentiful job opportunities,
and an environmentally friendly agricultural industry. If
you're dedicated to creating great meals, then California
might be the place for you.
What
Makes California Special for this Career
Culinary
Careers in California
California
is an ideal place to begin a career in the culinary industry,
both for jobs opportunities and for the culinary community.
In 2004, more new restaurants opened in California than in
any other state, and the state has over 80,000 dining establishments.
According to the California Restaurant Association, California
residents spent more money in restaurants than in supermarkets
in 2004, with total sales of over $46 billion.
California
Crush
In addition
to career prospects, California offers unique culinary experiences.
Wine enthusiasts can visit Napa Valley, where chefs and sommeliers
have the opportunity to create complementary pairings of food
and wine. California's mild climate translates into a great
availability of fresh produce, and food lovers can even find
figs ripe on the trees. Organic produce is popular in the
region, as is the development of sustainable agricultural
systems. California is home to a variety of first-rate sources
of ingredients, including fisheries and sturgeon farms, coffee
roasters, and chocolatiers.
The
California Advantage
The advantages
of beginning a culinary career in California are plentiful.
The area's many vineyards, local farms, and renowned restaurants
bring in tourists from around the world. For the ambitious
chef, Hollywood provides opportunities for culinary stardom,
food styling or photography, as well as the chance to create
meals for celebrities as a personal chef or caterer. California's
reputation for fresh, delicious food is well established,
making the state a special place to start your culinary career.
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