Catering College Course

Catering college programs prepare future caterers to work in food preparation, food supply, food decoration, and coordination, as well as small business management skills.

Caterers mainly work at special events such as weddings and holiday parties but they also work at restaurants, hotels, cafés, casinos to prepare and serve food and beverage items. Catering training is formal training that provides prospective caterers with the knowledge and skills in the food service industry. Catering involves food preparation, food safety and handling, food preparation and presentation as well as coordinating inventory and supplies for special functions and events. Many graduates with a catering degree choose to work for hotels chains, restaurants, resorts, cruises, and cruise ships. Others go on to open and run their own catering company upon gaining substantial experience. You can get a caterer diploma, or earn bachelors degree in culinary arts management. Online diploma programs in catering and gourmet cooking teach classical and modern culinary techniques.

Catering Education and Training

Some catering schools offer an associate degree in professional catering, while others may combine a culinary arts degree with a concentration in catering and food service management. Other catering training courses may include catering certificates and degrees. These may be attained though culinary academies, culinary schools or hospitality management programs. Some catering courses that you may be required to take are:

• Kitchen Operations
• Beverage Management
• Inventory and Budgeting
• Menu Planning
• Cooking Foundations
• Nutrition
• Special Diet Food Preparation
• Banquet and Facilities Management
• Culinary Arts
• Baking and Pastry Techniques
• Cost Control Methodology
• Human Resources Management
• Public Relations
• Financial Management

Catering students learn skills in:

• Selecting food and design menus
• Food presentation
• Inventory and financial management
• Human resource management
• Supply procurement
• Working with vendors and suppliers

Catering Careers

Upon completion of professional catering college courses, graduates of catering schools can work in different positions such as:

• Catering managers and supervisors
• Corporate caterer
• Private caterer
• Catering chef

Many graduates also choose to open up their own catering business to manage a team of caterers for special events. Caterers bring restaurant services to the client, providing beverages and food at weddings, formal parties, and other special events. To be a successful caterer, requires strong culinary skills, customer service, and people skills. In addition, many, caterers run their own food services businesses, offering consulting services to corporations and organizations.

Expected Salary and Project Career Growth

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 10% increase in the demand for catering chefs, independent caterers and corporate caterers between 2008 and 2018. Caterers who specialize in a certain types of cuisine provide exclusive services for weddings or social events can build up a list of clients, a key for success in repeat business. Upon graduation from a catering college, the starting salary for catering coordinators is $35,000 to $40,000. Catering professionals in food service management and banquet management are also ideals career, paths with a comfortable income.

Catering college programs and Le Cordon Bleu Schools