What Jobs Can I get with a Culinary Degree besides Chef?

Interested in the culinary industry but not cut out for cooking? The culinary industry needs all types. Chefs are only one part of the puzzle comprising fine dining experiences. Modern consumers are more educated about the process, quality, and supply chain. They expect to be dazzled not just by the flavor and presentation, but also the service, ambiance, and core values of management.

Diners expect transparency in the food supply chain, branding and backstory on the establishment, and an emphasis on local, sustainably-sourced ingredients. Health and Nutrition are also increasingly important. The role of nutrition in supporting our health has become a primary concern for many, creating a new niche for those with the education, skills, and techniques to create menus and dishes which are healthy and delicious. 

So what Culinary Roles are Available Outside of the Kitchen? Read on. 

Culinary Science 

Cooking is equal parts art and science. The science of cooking requires dedicated culinary experts willing to go the distance in and outside of the "laboratory" (AKA kitchen) to ensure food is the best quality possible. That means monitoring safe handling, improving upon those handling standards, testing out and improving upon kitchen equipment, developing new cooking methods, and more.

• Food Safety Specialist - These vital individuals are critical to the industry, they monitor food safety and storage practices, and serve as food inspectors.
• Food Technologist - Often employed by a corporation, a food technologist develops new flavors or food products on a production line.
• Food Scientist - Offers a wide array of food-related research, from the development of new flavors to a greater understanding of food safety, nutrition, and production.

Culinary Management 

If you are passionate about the culinary industry but are more of a ringleader than a headliner, management may be a great path for you. There are a variety of management positions for those with a culinary degree who are more interested in keeping the culinary circus running smoothly. 

• Food Service Director - Responsible for overseeing the planning, management, and operations of a dining service and associated departments.
• Food and Beverage Director - An executive position responsible for managing the delivery of quality food and beverage service for a large company, often in a hospitality role.
• Food Safety Manager - Oversees the food safety program for a company or large restaurant, setting safety guidelines and managing the food inspection operations.

Culinary Education 

For those who love teaching and mentoring others and have a passion for food, culinary education may be a rewarding choice.

• Culinary Instructor - Teach in a culinary institute, online, or in local classrooms. Prepare chefs for commercial kitchens or help hobbyists improve their cooking skills.
• Nutritionist - Deploy culinary knowledge to develop meal plans that deliver taste along with improved medical outcomes. They may work in a clinical setting, as an adviser to a company, or with individuals as a one-on-one coach.
• Personal Health Coach - Empowered with a knowledge of how to prepare healthful and tasty meals, a personal health coach combines culinary expertise with other self-improvement knowledge to guide clients towards their goals in a group or individually.

Culinary Arts 

If you want to elevate the artistic nature of your culinary career, you can expand beyond the plate and display food in new ways as a food writer, food stylist, or molecular gastronomist.

• Food Writer - Start a food blog, develop recipes and write cookbooks, explore the history and culture of food, write reviews of local restaurants. A food writer combines a love of gastronomy with the art of prose.
• Food Stylist - Often paired with food photography, stylists create food meant to be visually appetizing. Food blogging, news images, cookbooks, and marketing materials all use food stylists.
• Molecular Gastronomist - Elevate the creation and experience of food to a whole new level. Combine science to transform eating into an artistic exploration of food as experience.

Ready to Cook Up a Tasty New Future?

Are you interested in the culinary arts? If you want to earn a degree in culinary arts in a concentration such as Applied Nutrition, Baking and Pastry Arts, Food Service Management, or Culinary Arts itself, ECPI University offers these courses at an accelerated pace. For more information, and to see which one is right for you, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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