In Georgia, there are many job opportunities in the restaurant and food service industries. Nearly 11% of the state’s workforce is employed in the restaurant sector, and more are expected to be employed as the day passes by.
Culinary specialists with advanced education and training who possess the abilities and talents to run a successful business are currently in great demand.
In this article, you will learn about the best culinary schools in Georgia. The schools on this list feature a hands-on learning environment, a professional work opportunity, experienced staff and instructors, and a positive reputation in the industry based on this research.
What are the requirements for culinary schools in Georgia?
When it comes to school requirements for culinary schools in Georgia, it is not the same for all colleges just like culinary schools in Maine requirements are different from culinary schools in Connecticut same applies to culinary schools in Finland. But below, we will provide you with the general and basic requirements for culinary schools in Georgia.
Basic Requirements for Culinary Schools in Georgia
The following are the requirements for culinary schools in Georgia:
- Must have completed high school
- Provision of reference letters with valid ID cards
- Written essay
- Student permit card or student visa for international students
- Official high school transcripts or their equivalent.
- English proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, etc (not compulsory)
Top 10 Best Culinary Schools in Georgia
- Kennesaw State University
- Athens Technical College
- Georgina Northwestern Technical College
- Southern Crescent Technical College
- Chattahoochee Technical College
- College Of Coastal Georgia
- Augusta Technical College
- Colorado State University
- Escoffier School Of Culinary Arts Austin
- Coastal Pines Technical College
1. Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University is the first on our list of the top culinary in Georgia, this university is a comprehensive university located on two suburban campuses in Kennesaw and Marietta, northwest of metro Atlanta. They make an impact across the region, nation, and around the world. Kennesaw is the third largest university in Georgia.
This university is focused on the growth, transformation, and tenacity of its students, students are put first to empower them to seek and strive to discover their path forward.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Colleges (SACSCOC) has proudly accredited Kennesaw State University to grant bachelor’s, master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral degrees.
Aspiring culinary professionals who have a passion for food and want something more than the conventional, classroom-based culinary education curriculum can obtain a Culinary Apprenticeship Certificate from this institution, which is a 6-month intensive program.
Some of the things the culinary programs at Kennesaw State University are;
- Industry tools, equipment, and food science
- Knife skills
- Dry and moist heat cooking methods
- How to make stocks, soups, and sauces
- Meat, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and herb identification
- Garde manger (keeper of the food) duties
- Baking, plating, and presentation including differences in world cuisine
- Sanitation basics while preparing for the ServSafe exam.
2. Athens Technical College
Athens Technical College was founded in 1958, Athens Technical College System of Georgia(TCSG) has four campuses located in Walton, Elbert, and Greene counties, with the main campus in Athens.
The culinary program at Athens Techs involves a combination of culinary theory, safety and sanitation, nutrition, and practical applications necessary in the culinary industry which will prepare one for a successful career in the industry.
At Athens College, all the Culinary courses have lab components where students can gain hands-on experience preparing various foods and cuisines. The program is partially online and offered in the daytime only.
Athens Techs is affordable, hands-on, flexible, and supportive, offering transferable credits. The process of admission is easy, all you need to do is to;
- Apply online
- Take the Placement Tests (if necessary)
- Submit Transcripts
- Provide proof of Legal Presence
- Receive Confirmation.
3. Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a public technical college that serves nine countries across northwestern Georgia. It operates under the technical system of Georgia. The college comprises six campuses: Catoosa County Campus, Walk Counter Campus, Floyd County Campus, Gordon County Campus, Polk County Campus, and Whitfield Murray Campus.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is accredited by the SACSCOC to award associate degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit.
Georgia Northwest Technical College, a part of Georgia’s technical college system, supports students in the towns of northwest Georgia by offering top-notch technical education and opportunities for workforce development.
The average cost of studying at the Georgia Institute of Technology for undergraduate students who are not residing in Georgia is $50,270 for two semesters, including tuition fees. For graduates, the average cost of attendance is more than $19,126 yearly.
The university offers the following culinary programs;
- Culinary Arts Degree
- Culinary Arts
- Prep Cook
- Food Production Worker
- Catering Specialist
These culinary programs help students possess the experience and knowledge that will lead them to job acquisition, retention, and advancement in the food service industry.
4. Southern Crescent Technical College
Southern Crescent Technical College, a unit of the technical college system of Georgia, offers exciting program options to guide you through your ambition.
Southern Crescent Technical is a public community college with two main campuses in Georgia, one in Griffin and one in Thomaston.
This college provides relevant technical education, adult education, and learning opportunities via various instructional modalities at the associate degree, diploma, and certificate levels to promote service, workforce development, and economic development.
Southern Crescent Technical College prepares students to become globally work-ready. The culinary program offered in this college prepares students for entry-level management positions in hotels and restaurants as well as in the institutional hospitality industry such as school systems, hospitals, and retirement homes.
The culinary Arts program, Associate Degree, and Diploma programs are accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, Inc. (ACFEF).
Southern Crescent Technical College culinary arts requirements:
- Submit the completed application and application fee
- Be at least 16 years of age
- Submit your official high school transcript or GED transcript with test scores and ALL post-secondary transcripts in an official sealed envelope
- Meet assessment requirements
- Students must have the ability to lift 25 lbs., do prolonged standing, and tolerate heat.
5. Chattahoochee Technical College
Chattahoochee technical college is a two-year college. The coed college is located in a city in a suburban setting and is primarily a commuter campus. This college offers certificates and associate degrees.
Chattahoochee Technical College comprises eight campuses that serve a six-country area in north Georgia. They offer outstanding education and training services as part of the technical college system of Georgia’s mission of providing technical, academic, and adult education and training focused on building a well-educated, globally competitive workforce for Georgia.
This college offers day, evening, and weekend sessions, as well as several hybrid and entirely online courses.
In more than 50 program areas, including business sciences, computer sciences, engineering technology, health sciences, personal and public services, and technical studies, the college offers degrees, diplomas, and certificates program.
The culinary programs Chattahoochee technical college offer include;
- Culinary Arts Associate of Applied Science Degree
- Culinary Arts Diploma
- Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate
- Catering Specialist Certificate
- Prep Cook Certificate
- Restaurant Manager Certificate
6. College of Coastal Georgia
Coastal College Georgia is located on the southeast Atlantic coast in Brunswick, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, the College of Coastal Georgia is an undergraduate college within the university system of Georgia.
The college provides an affordable and interactive education nestled in the natural beauty and abundant sunshine of Georgia’s golden isles.
At the College of Coastal Georgia, All levels of opportunities are discovered by students, whether with community engagement through service learning, or hands-on application of classroom material. There is a spirit of volunteerism at the college and a commitment to making positive changes.
The College of Coastal Georgia offers bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, as well as minors and certificates. With a student/ faculty ratio that averages 19:1, your professors know your name in a college setting where the academics are challenging and exhilarating.
Experiential learning opportunities in coastal Georgia are unmatched. From hands-on field experience to internships and high-level research, our programs make learning so fun.
For students interested in becoming chefs or working with food, the Culinary Arts program at Coastal Georgia offers a unique opportunity in our area to learn from a highly qualified and respected faculty.
Some of the things you will learn as a student of the College of Coastal Georgia include;
- How to make and serve a variety of professional food items, apply the ideas and concepts of quality food purchasing, with an emphasis on sustainable food items, food and baking preparation, service, and the use of tools and equipment.
- How to preserve a customer’s best health, apply the fundamentals of culinary service, organization, sanitation, safety, and sustainability in a food service operation.
- Demonstrate expertise in a variety of areas of the culinary hierarchy, such as interpersonal connections, leadership and resource management, and moral judgment.
- Discuss the criteria for restaurant rules including the consumption of alcoholic beverages and health and safety rules.
The university culinary kitchen lab courses are carried out at Coastal Georgia’s Camden Center in Camden County, which is 45 minutes south of the Brunswick Campus.
7. Augusta Technical College
Augusta Technical College is a two-year college based in Augusta, Georgia that provides academic and technical education and also industrial training. The purpose of the Augusta technical college foundation, inc. is to promote the Augusta technical college’s mission of offering programs and services that enhance student and community success through the attainment of technical certificates of credit, diplomas, associates degrees, customized training, non-credit continuing education and adult education.
The foundation functions as a development organization to receive charitable contributions for the improvement of Augusta technical college. The foundation assures those considering gifts to the college that the assets will be kept separate from public funds and will be used as the donor wants.
The foundation emphasizes funding three majors of the college
- The scholarships for students in need
- Equipment or technology acquisition
- Grants that become available may or may not require an investment on the part of the foundation to secure additional funds for the college.
All the campuses are accredited by the southern association of Colleges and Schools Commissions on Colleges ( sacscoc).
Augusta technical college operates under the supervision of the state board of the technical college system in Georgia, serving the needs of businesses, industry, and the public in a five-county area in east central Georgia.
This college is among the colleges that offer the best culinary programs in Georgia.
8. Colorado State University
Colorado State University is one of the nation’s top public research universities and institutions on the rise, in the last decade CSU has produced record enrollment, built on all-time highs in student diversity and student success, and Record fundraising far spacing ambitious goals.
Colorado State University is 100% online and 100% committed to giving you the tools and support you need to reach your career goals.
Colorado State University is committed to maintaining high academic standards and providing access to higher education as part of the land grant mission.
In general, students with a 3.0 GPA(on a 4.0 scale) and a steady or upward trend in grades are admitted to CSU.
This college has produced graduates like Pulitzer Prize winners, Astronauts, CEOs, and two former governors of Colorado.
This school has a professional kitchen with a work island and mirror for cooking demonstrations and classes, the kitchen room is spacious and smart, it can contain 24 persons with flexible seating arrangements.
Their activities include; training, food prep demonstrations, cooking classes, catering prep and classes, youth classes, testing, and PowerPoint presentations.
9. Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Austin
Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Austin is known for its thriving food truck community and diverse restaurant culture, Austin, Texas has a lot more to offer than just brisket and tacos. This big little city will quickly establish itself as one of the leading metropolises for cuisine in the nation.
Austin campus is the perfect place to kick off your career with one of our culinary arts or pastry arts programs. Austin Culinary School cultivates futures in the culinary and pastry fields by ensuring students are equipped with both advanced kitchen and business skills.
Escoffier School of Culinary Arts is ranked #1 best culinary school in the world. You can train for a professional career at the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin and you can also get your degree and diploma online in the culinary arts and more.
At Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, we offer programs in five different specialties, ranging from 30 to 84 weeks. That means approximately seven months, you could complete your diploma program.
10. Coastal Pines Technical College
Coastal Pines Technical College is a community college in Waycross, Georgia, with six branches in other cities. Coastal Pines Technical College was established on July 1, 2014, from the merger of Altamaha Technical College.
The school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges (sacscoc).
Coastal Pines Technical College is a two-year post-secondary institution that serves thirteen countries and has seven campuses in the rural towns of Alma, Baxter, Brunswick, Hazlehurst, Jesup, Kingsland, and Waycross in southeastern Georgia.
The school offers associate degrees, and certificate or diploma programs in the arrears of allied health, business and computer, personal services, and technical and industrial technology.
Coastal Pines Technical College offers eleven tuition-free programs through the HOPE career grant, as well as access to scholarships and grants through the CPTC foundation. All remaining credit hours for the college are offered at only $89 per credit hour, making getting an education for students very affordable.
Most popular Georgian cuisine
The following foods listed below are the most famous and popular dishes in Georgia:
Khachapuri
This is the most popular Georgian dish, which is also recognized as the national dish. It is a cheese-filled pastry that is inscribed on the list of the cultural heritage of Georgia.
Borano
This dish is a cheese type of dish from the Adjara region. It has a lot of calories, this meal is not for the faint at heart. The dish is made with Georgian braided cheese and cultured butter made from kaimaghi.
Borano
This is also one of the most popular Georgia dishes. It is a dumpling that originated in the mountainous regions of Georgia. It is traditionally made from a few ingredients like onions, chili pepper, minced lamb, and salt. Khinkali can also be spiced with potatoes, cheese, or mushroom fillings.
Kharcho
This dish is a beef soup that hails from the Samegrelo region. And it is known for its combination of ingredients and its unique taste. It can be made with meats like chicken, goose, or lamb.
Kubdari
This meal is a meat-filled bread that originated from the mountainous Svaneti region. Kubdari is a dish made with beef, or pork, onions, and a selection of Georgia spices traditionally.
Lobio
Lobio is a special meal in Georgia cuisine, lobio stew is normally made by soaking beans and adding other Georgia spices overnight and gradually cooking them alongside vegetables the next day. It is eaten most times with Georgia cornbread or flatbread.
Kuchmachi
kuchmachi is an appetizer made of pig or chicken hearts, gizzards, and livers. While preparing this dish, the meat has to be chopped, boiled, and fried with onions, garlic, spices, and walnuts. When food is ready, it is good to add fresh coriander for a very sweet taste.
Jonjoli
This is one of the most popular Georgia dishes that is very peculiar and unique in Georgia. Jonjoli is the name of a Caucasian bladdernut. These bladdernuts are appetizers that are pickled alongside different vegetables including tomatoes, onions, and garlic. It can be eaten locally as a side dish with lobio dishes.
What is the difference between a culinary school and a culinary institute?
Culinary school teaches students the arts, and science on how to cook, bake and learn other culinary skills. At a culinary school, the curriculum may include courses in cooking techniques, kitchen management, food preparations, menu planning, etc.
The culinary institution is an institution that is devoted to the arts and science of cooking and the preparation of foods.
What are the most famous Restaurants in Georgia?
1. The Dillard House restaurant
2. Marggiono’s Little Italy
3. Home-grown GA restaurant
4. Aviva by Kameez
5. Canoe
6. Bones restaurant
7. Sea breeze
8. Nikolai’s Roof
9. Mrs. Wilkes’s Dining Room
10. Southern Soul Barbecue
Conclusion
After attending one of Georgia’s top culinary schools, you will learn how to prepare nutritious meals, how to encourage others to eat well-balanced meals, and what to add to make them tasty. This knowledge may help you land a job at one of the world’s top hostels, businesses, or restaurants or at least open up opportunities for travel and adventure. If you are interested and want to apply, be sure to visit the school website for additional details on the best culinary schools in Georgia.
Recommended
Top 9 Best Culinary Schools in Connecticut
15 Best Culinary Schools in Finland 2023
Top 6 Best Culinary Schools in Maine