Contributor Profile
World of Food & Drink 11 min read

States with the Biggest Organic Food Footprint

See which U.S. states have the biggest organic food footprint based on organic farmland, land use, and production value.

September 18, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 14 min read

How to Build a Pastry Chef Portfolio: What Employers Actually Look for

Learn how you can build a pastry chef portfolio that shows employers your range, consistency, and skill, plus common mistakes to avoid.

September 17, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 23 min read

15 Great Careers in the Food Industry

From pitmaster to pastry chef, discover 15 culinary careers with real salary data, day-in-the-life breakdowns, and how you can get started.

September 11, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 12 min read

How to Prepare for Culinary School While Still in High School

Thinking about culinary school after high school? Discover practical ways to build your skills, gain experience, and prepare for what comes next.

September 10, 2026

From the Online Classroom to the Professional Kitchen: What Makes an Effective Online Culinary Program

Discover what makes an effective online culinary program, from flexible coursework and hands-on practice to chef feedback and real-world externships.

September 3, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 17 min read

A Day in the Life of a Pastry Chef

What really happens during a pastry chef’s shift? Step inside the kitchen for early prep, dinner rushes, heavy lifting, and plenty of butter, sugar, and flour.

September 2, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 13 min read

Culinary Field Trip Ideas for High School Educators — In-Person & Virtual Options

Culinary field trip ideas for high school educators: in-person destinations, virtual options, and tips for making every experience count in the classroom.

August 28, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 18 min read

Choosing Your Culinary Specialization: Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry, or Plant-Based

Dreaming of a career in food but not sure where to begin? Explore culinary arts, baking & pastry, and plant-based cuisine to discover the path that feels most like you.

August 20, 2026
Food Entrepreneurship 18 min read

How to Start a Restaurant: A Step-By-Step Guide

Explore how you can start a restaurant with this step-by-step guide covering business plans, funding, licenses, staffing, and more.

August 18, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 16 min read

Am I Too Young To Be a Chef?

Wondering if you're too young to pursue a culinary career? Here's what real young chefs did before adulthood—and steps you can take right now.

August 7, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 22 min read

What to Look for When Touring a Culinary School (A Checklist)

Wondering what to look for on a culinary school tour? This checklist covers facilities, instructors, curriculum, externships, and more.

August 3, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 10 min read

Can You Go to Culinary School With No Prior Experience?

Culinary experience isn’t required to enroll in culinary school. See what to expect at every experience level, from none to years in a kitchen.

July 30, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 12 min read

Culinary Math & Science: Turning Your High School Education Into a Culinary Career

Cooking is a delicious blend of math, chemistry, and biology. Find out how your high school education can help you in your pursuit of a culinary career.

July 29, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 16 min read

How to Become a Food Stylist: A Career Guide

Find out what a food stylist does, what they can earn, and how to become one, with insights from working professionals.

July 28, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 19 min read

Culinary Jobs You Can Start While Still in High School

Explore 7 entry-level culinary jobs high school students can start now, including pay data, skills you can build, and insight into how early experience can lead to a culinary career.

July 24, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 14 min read

How to Become a Recipe Developer

Discover how you can become a recipe developer, from building culinary skills and earning a degree to growing a portfolio and exploring career paths in food.

July 22, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 22 min read

What Does a Chef Consultant Do?

Chef consultants help food businesses improve menus, operations, and profitability. Explore what they do, how they find work, and how you can become one.

July 17, 2026

3 Ways Culinary School Can Help Boost Your Career

Discover how culinary school can help boost your career through mentorship, hands-on industry externships, and the skills to advance or change direction.

July 15, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 11 min read

How to Become a Sommelier

Discover how to become a sommelier, from wine education and hands-on experience to certification levels, career paths, and what the day-to-day role actually looks like.

July 14, 2026
Food Entrepreneurship 25 min read

How to Start a Bakery Business from Home

Start your own home-based bakery business. Get practical guidance on legal requirements, pricing your baked goods, sales channels, and building customers.

July 10, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 16 min read

How to Make a Professional Culinary Portfolio

What should go in a culinary portfolio? Explore essential elements from food photography to credentials that can make your portfolio stand out.

July 9, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 18 min read

How to Become a Traveling Chef

Thinking about a career as a traveling chef? Discover which opportunities are out there, how to find them, and if you have what it takes.

July 8, 2026
Culinary Arts 12 min read

A Brief History Of The Chef’s Uniform

The chef's uniform has a history spanning two centuries. Here's what each piece means, where it came from, and why it still matters.

July 2, 2026
Baking & Pastry Arts 18 min read

Pastry Chef vs. Baker: What’s the Difference?

Wondering if you should be a baker or pastry chef? Compare roles, salaries, schedules, and skills to find the right baking career path.

June 25, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 15 min read

Culinary School, College, or Trade School: Which Education Path Is Right for Veterans?

Culinary school, college, trade school, or apprenticeship? Compare education paths for veterans, including GI Bill coverage, timelines, and career outcomes.

June 17, 2026
World of Food & Drink 17 min read

What Is Korean Cuisine? A Complete Guide to Flavors, Techniques, and Traditions

Explore professional Korean culinary techniques. Study the science of Jang, fermentation, and modern innovations shaping today’s global food trends.

June 16, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 18 min read

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Chef?

What does it take to become a chef? Explore the key culinary, creative, and leadership skills that can shape a successful kitchen career.

June 15, 2026
Recipes & Techniques 17 min read

What Are Aromatic Bases in Cooking? A Guide to Mirepoix, Sofrito, and Beyond

Explore how aromatic bases like mirepoix, soffritto, and ginisa shape flavor, and how to use them in your own cooking.

June 11, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 16 min read

How to Write a Chef Resume

Comprehensive guide to writing a chef resume: education, certifications, work experience, recruiter-friendly formatting, and more. Stand out in your culinary job search.

June 10, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 16 min read

How to Become a Food Critic: A Step-By-Step Guide

How you can become a food critic: training options, portfolio-building strategies, and the path from food lover to professional food writer.

June 8, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 19 min read

The Difference Between a Professional Cook and a Chef

Discover the difference between a cook and a chef, including responsibilities, skills, pay, career paths, and how you can move up in the kitchen.

June 3, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 17 min read

How Much Education Might You Need to Become a Chef?

Do you need professional training as a chef to succeed? Explore the value of chef education and whether it may be right for you.

June 1, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 16 min read

What Is a Stagiaire?

You’ve heard the term stagiaire—but what does it mean? Explore the past—and future—of this culinary practice, and why aspiring chefs should care.

May 29, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 16 min read

How to Build a Culinary Portfolio as a High School Student

Build a strong culinary portfolio in high school with free tools and phone photos. Stand out for scholarships, competitions, and your first kitchen job.

May 27, 2026
Success Stories 14 min read

How Escoffier Student Richard Hodgkiss Found Healing in the Kitchen

Veteran and former ER worker Richard Hodgkiss found healing in the kitchen. Now an Escoffier student, he’s building a new future through food.

May 22, 2026
Food Entrepreneurship 27 min read

The Food Content Creator: Building a Career Through TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube

Build a culinary career on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Discover how to grow an audience, create content, and monetize your cooking skills.

May 18, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 15 min read

Community College Culinary School Versus Dedicated Culinary Schools: The Case for Specialization

Compare community college vs. dedicated culinary schools. Learn how specialized training, Chef Instructors, and industry connections can advance your career.

May 13, 2026
Value of Culinary Education 12 min read

Is Culinary School Hard?

Is culinary school hard? Find out what you can expect, how Escoffier supports students, and tips to succeed in a fast-paced culinary program.

May 8, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 19 min read

How You Can Become a Baker

Explore the roadmap to a professional baking career. Learn about culinary school, key baking terminology, and how you can land your first job in a bakery.

May 6, 2026
Culinary & Pastry Careers 15 min read

How To Shadow a Chef While in High School

Thinking about becoming a chef? Discover how to shadow a chef while in high school, including outreach tips, kitchen etiquette, and how to make a strong impression.

April 30, 2026
Subscribe to the King of Chefs Blog

Subscribe to the King of Chefs Blog

Get the King of Chefs email newsletter delivered to your inbox weekly. You'll get everything you need to know about culinary & pastry careers, food entrepreneurship, financing your culinary education, and more.

Students from ,
Earn a degree or diploma from the largest culinary school brand in the U.S.!*

Find all the resources you need to begin your culinary journey at Escoffier.

Get Started Here
*Based on comparable student population data for Austin and Boulder as currently reported in Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Arrow
Is Culinary School Right For You?
Take This Short Quiz
Is Culinary School Right For You? Take This Short Quiz