Work.

[EmoFox]

Is it just me or does there seem to be an abundance of furry cooks and chefs? Like, holy crap. Though I guess BC(vancouver) is supposed to be the best place for aspiring chefs, isn't it?

[Lt ReiStark]

VIU is world renowned for being a great cooking school, in fact im planning to go there so i can work somewhere trendy like a japanese urban style place, or an off the hook bar / grill.

[EmoFox]

i dunno, it looks more like its "world renowned" in the sense that VCC is.
But to the same point I would probably say if thats renowned, the schools like The Culinary Institute of America, or Art institute Culinary campus Vancouver (formerly Dubrulle Culinary Institute), or even the culinary institute of vancouver island, would be considered "illustrious".

But i'm also of the opinion that people only go to VCC because its cheaper and has something to do with Gordon Ramsey. Not to say good chef's can't come out of schools like that; of course they can. I just think its rarer than the schools themselves lead people to believe. Between VCC and Dubrulle/Ai Culinary, I would think that Ai was the better school. Simply because the four chefs I know, two from each school, the two from Dubrulle/Ai are much better chefs, exponentially better in fact, than the two that went to VCC. ANd I say both Dubrulle and Ai because the one chef I know went to the school before it was bought out by the art institutes, but I believe its still essentially the same courses with some of the same instructors even.

I'm rambling. It's way too early. I'm going back to bed.

[Daryll]

Well... It really all depends. VCC is great for not only getting students to take the PC1 and PC2 (professional cook levels 1 and 2) exams, it is tied to the government and your hours for each level get recorded. That is, when you take the Western Culinary arts. The bad thing about the W. Culinary is that you learn too many preferences of cooking methods and styles. All derive from the "On Cooking" textbook, but each teacher is different. There are 11 month blocks, where each block has a different teacher. Some are excellent, and some... Well, I will say meh.

However, the courses all do follow the Red Seal program, and your hours get submitted to the ITA - the Industrial Training Authority, to count towards getting your red seal. I am not sure if the other schools count toward such, since they are private as opposed to VCC, which is public.

There is only so much I can say, though, as I took Asian Culinary there, and it was very good. Actually had to memorize recipes and methods for exams.

I went there not because it was cheap, but because it was the only school I heard of out in Alberta - and my cousin from Kamloops taught at VCC before, and she knew some about the program.

Anyhow, that be my two cents! I still love cooking, and to get my Red Seal, I will be working in some restaurants.



Also: The Dirty Spoon, which is close to VCC downtown, has ties to Bobby Flay from Iron Chef America. I do not know if Gordon popped to VCC or not =P

[EmoFox]

Well... It really all depends. VCC is great for not only getting students to take the PC1 and PC2 (professional cook levels 1 and 2) exams, it is tied to the government and your hours for each level get recorded. That is, when you take the Western Culinary arts. The bad thing about the W. Culinary is that you learn too many preferences of cooking methods and styles. All derive from the "On Cooking" textbook, but each teacher is different. There are 11 month blocks, where each block has a different teacher. Some are excellent, and some... Well, I will say meh.

However, the courses all do follow the Red Seal program, and your hours get submitted to the ITA - the Industrial Training Authority, to count towards getting your red seal. I am not sure if the other schools count toward such, since they are private as opposed to VCC, which is public.

There is only so much I can say, though, as I took Asian Culinary there, and it was very good. Actually had to memorize recipes and methods for exams.

I went there not because it was cheap, but because it was the only school I heard of out in Alberta - and my cousin from Kamloops taught at VCC before, and she knew some about the program.

Anyhow, that be my two cents! I still love cooking, and to get my Red Seal, I will be working in some restaurants.

Yeah, Ai works that way too, as far as I know. They even use On Cooking, lol. To be fair, I've only talked to two people about the differences; one was a student at VCC, and the other being Jester, who graduates from Ai this month. The only thing the VCC student was able to say about it was that she didn't get any homework, and something to do with Gordon Ramsey being affiliated with the school. Though looking him up on wikipedia, it doesn't mention any affiliation with the school whatsoever, so that could have been something she made up to try and be impressive.

I don't even know why i'm rambling about it to be honest, lol I don't cook. When I do go back to school, it'll be for equestrian sciences and farrier sciences, XD

[Foxxphyre]

It might be explained by the fact that 38% of people employed in Western Economies are in the service industry, a category in which cooks/chefs are included- the high male demographic makes it less likely that they are working front of house.  You'll probably find higher numbers working retail too.  Just based off of stats.

[terutt]

Yeah, Ai works that way too, as far as I know. They even use On Cooking, lol. To be fair, I've only talked to two people about the differences; one was a student at VCC, and the other being Jester, who graduates from Ai this month. The only thing the VCC student was able to say about it was that she didn't get any homework, and something to do with Gordon Ramsey being affiliated with the school. Though looking him up on wikipedia, it doesn't mention any affiliation with the school whatsoever, so that could have been something she made up to try and be impressive.

I don't even know why i'm rambling about it to be honest, lol I don't cook. When I do go back to school, it'll be for equestrian sciences and farrier sciences, XD

Gordon Ramsay is affiliated with Tante Marie in England.

I'm actually looking to go to school in a year or so, and what I can see is this. AI used to be Debrulle before they got bought. Afterwards a mass exodus of the chef instructors happened, mostly in protest to the lowered admission standards, and higher tuition. (It's almost checkbook and a pulse now). A lot went to VCC, and two jumped ship and opened their own school, Northwest Culinary. Both have remarkably similar curricula, and both are ITA certified.

On the other hand, you also have PICA, which is super French, and super plating heavy. It's almost entirely fine dining.

[velvetkytten]

Zen: What do you program?

Emofox: I bet you have a sezzy voice. I hear you have to have a sezzy voice for that line of work.  :P Do you get a lot of purvy old farts calling?

Lt Reistark: I'll have to get you to help me with my pagan spring equinox goat roasting.

Velvetkytten: I used to be really into that kind of stuff back in high school. We'll have to get together sometime so you can give me a reading, maybe ask about my financial future.  :P

my readings are only 20bucks too :)

[Foxxphyre]

I worked in a Medical Marijuana dispensary...

I dabble in music recording and production for artists, street performance and metaphysical practice (some tarot, crystal massage, shamanic journeying).

I also teach ESL...

Between jobs at the moment though, so I'll probably end up doing restaurant work until other things work themselves out.... I've got a fair bit of experience.

[Renwaldo]

I worked in a Medical Marijuana dispensary...

I dabble in music recording and production for artists, street performance and metaphysical practice (some tarot, crystal massage, shamanic journeying).

I also teach ESL...

Between jobs at the moment though, so I'll probably end up doing restaurant work until other things work themselves out.... I've got a fair bit of experience.

My my, such a variety of industries you have experience in.
What is a marijuana dispensary?

[Elias.Ringtail]

I dabble in music recording and production for artists...

Audio Engineer Highfive! XD

[EmoFox]

My my, such a variety of industries you have experience in.
What is a marijuana dispensary?

A marijuana dispensary is a facility that is licensed to sell medical marijuana to patients.

[Renwaldo]

A marijuana dispensary is a facility that is licensed to sell medical marijuana to patients.

I see, it's funny they don't have that for other drugs. My sleeping pills are mostly made of lactose sugar found in fresh milk, it would be convenient - and cheaper, no middle man - if I could just go to a local dairy farm and ask the farmer for some pure 'lactose monohydrate'.  >_<

[Gizmo]

I see, it's funny they don't have that for other drugs. My sleeping pills are mostly made of lactose sugar found in fresh milk, it would be convenient - and cheaper, no middle man - if I could just go to a local dairy farm and ask the farmer for some pure 'lactose monohydrate'.  >_<

They have cows that produce 'lactose monohydrate'? That I would like to see!!! LOL

[Foxxphyre]

A marijuana dispensary is a facility that is licensed to sell medical marijuana to patients.

*deleted reply*

[admin]This post set off my work "illegal activity screener", please use better judgement while posting in the future :police:[/admin]