The best culinary schools can help you realize your dream of becoming a chef. Whether you want to work at a restaurant, own your own business, or become a food journalist, a top culinary school will give you the skills and confidence to thrive in the world of gastronomy. But which one is the right fit for you? Choosing the right program is an important decision that should be taken seriously. We’ve ranked the best culinary schools in the United States and outlined what to look for when making your choice.
The prestigious Michelin Guide awards restaurants with a star for their culinary excellence. Its rating system is based on the results of an intense process, in which teams of anonymous food loving auditors dine at a wide range of restaurants and make meticulous notes about their experience. The star rankings are then discussed at panel meetings and published in each region’s Michelin Guide on a yearly basis. A Michelin star is a coveted accolade and has helped to propel the careers of many famous chefs such as Massimo Bottura, Grant Achatz, Gordon Ramsay, and Enrique Olvera.
It’s no secret that the restaurant industry has a boys club culture, and even when women run high-end kitchens, they’re often ignored by top awards programs like the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. That’s why we applaud the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics awards, which highlight regional establishments (often family-owned) that are treasured for their quality cuisine and local character.
However, even these efforts fall short of addressing the industry’s most noxious flaws. For example, the award only includes a single restaurant in China and none in Africa, and it consistently neglects female-run restaurants. The good news is that a new awards list, called 50 Next, is recasting how we celebrate the culinary community.
The competition for the coveted honors is fierce. To qualify, applicants must be “educated about the art and science of cooking” and be committed to the advancement of gastronomy. The 2024 honorees include food entrepreneurs and innovators like Chad Houser, founder of the Dallas-based non-profit restaurant chain Cafe Momentum, which equips justice-involved teens with job skills and training in the kitchen. In addition to these industry leaders, the judging panel for the award also includes renowned writers and chefs. This year, the event will take place in Bilbao, Spain.