| Alabama cooking schools cater to those who | | | | Thai & Vietnamese specialties |
| want a career as a chef or restaurant owner, but | | | | Mexican specialties |
| may also offer classes for others. It used to be | | | | French pastries |
| that learning the culinary arts was limited to | | | | Italian or Tuscan traditions |
| people who had the time, money and inclination to | | | | A class will usually last from four to six hours and |
| learn a great deal over an extended period of | | | | provide all of the ingredients and equipment you |
| time and wanted to go on to work in the | | | | will need to prepare the dishes you'll be learning |
| restaurant or catering industry. | | | | during class. When you're finished, you'll go home |
| Today, however, the increased interest in eating | | | | with some new cooking skills, great recipes and a |
| well and cooking as an enjoyable leisure time | | | | full stomach. These afternoons are also relaxed |
| activity has led some culinary schools to offer a | | | | and organized so that everyone from the |
| variety of classes for the rest of us. These | | | | beginner to the amateur chef can learn at his or |
| classes respond to the many and varied interests | | | | her own pace. |
| of today's savvy adults who are more informed | | | | If you are more interested in desserts than |
| about nutritional choices, are interested in | | | | savory dishes, you won't have a problem finding |
| purchasing and preparing healthy meals without | | | | one-day courses that you'll love. More cooking |
| sacrificing flavor and those who want to impress | | | | schools are adding pastry classes each year. Also |
| their friends when entertaining. | | | | very popular are specialty courses on chocolate |
| Another trend observed at cooking schools are | | | | making. These are often featured near Valentine's |
| classes that are offered to parent/child groups in | | | | Day, and can be a great way to spend an |
| order to introduce children to the basic skills of | | | | afternoon with your sweetheart. |
| good cooking. With most young adults delaying | | | | If you or your high school student is considering |
| marriage and living on their own longer, parents | | | | the culinary arts as a career, taking one or two |
| are realizing that their children need to learn how | | | | of these weekend classes is a great way to give |
| to cook meals that go beyond cold cereal and | | | | it a try. There are very few careers where the |
| Ramen Noodles. The added pleasure of creating | | | | classes you take are so closely related to the |
| meals together and learning some new recipes | | | | reality of what you will be doing when you get a |
| make these classes extremely popular. | | | | job. With the classes being so hands-on, students |
| Many Cuisines | | | | get a real feel for what being a chef would be |
| If you've been looking for a way to enhance your | | | | like, so a few weekends exploring different |
| family's meals but the thought of combing through | | | | cuisines is also a great way to explore being a |
| more cookbooks bores you to tears, consider | | | | chef or pastry chef as a career option. |
| contacting some cooking schools in your area to | | | | To find out more, contact some Alabama cooking |
| find out what's offered on weekends. You'll be | | | | schools in your area and ask about the classes. |
| amazed at the wide range of one day classes | | | | Do a bit of research to see what the school has |
| you can take that will teach you to prepare | | | | to offer. There is a chance you may just find |
| wonderful dishes from around the world, including: | | | | your dream career, however there is no doubt |
| Spanish tapas, perfect for entertaining | | | | you will enjoy the experience. |
| Food & wine combinations | | | | |