The study of Culinary Art; Its need, importance and future prospects

The origin of cooking happened almost two million years ago, which was done by humans. Since then the art of culinary has propagated all around the world. Primitive human beings used to toss a raw chunk of meat into flame and watch it sizzle. The early civilisation observed the emergence of chefs; people never thought that cooking could ever become a profession. Since then people have started considering becoming a chef. As this profession became important, the need for studying culinary art has also become important. The path of culinary art is just as diverse as the food option. Gaining experience in the culinary career is more practical, working on the big gas ranges, tossing food, flambé crepe. But besides that, a lot of theoretical knowledge is required, even the big-named chef had a very humble beginning. Culinary art relates to designing, food preparation, cooking, and presentation Techniques are very important while practising any cuisine. It is branched under gastronomy and the hospitality industry, and which together aims in the development of culture and society. Nowadays, chefs not only have to know food science but are also required to know the nutritious values and diet which are responsible for the preparation of a meal. 

The path of culinary art is just as diverse as the food option. Gaining experience in the culinary career is more practical, working on the big gas ranges, tossing food, flambé crepe. But besides that, a lot of theoretical knowledge is required, even the big-named chef had a very humble beginning.

Reasons to study culinary art:

A culinary art training programme gives people the necessary experience, which brings an additional flavour to any dish

The course helps one to become more professional, prepare the food safely and systematically. This, in a way, makes you ethical at your workplace. While studying culinary art, you undergo courses that include food sanitation, molecular gastronomy, culinary event management, slow food and sustainable practices, culinary research development, food blogging and food photography. People prepare food not only for survival the thought behind to help people and make them enjoy and appreciate food that they consumed (however these are the only reasons why people cook) through this, one could also share and impart an art form. While plating a dish you just not present a dish but present ideas and expressions linked to the background and its origin. The way the food is prepared and presented on a plate looks like an art form, and this gives a great amount of satisfaction to the guest. The aroma creates different feelings; it's a painting that is filled with colours, and each colour represents an emotion.

Culinary art gives you the ability to admire different traditions and rituals

Food is closely linked with various cultures and religions. Food across the world is presented and ‘passed down’ from one generation to the other generation. And this always keeps the recipe alive; there could be few alterations in the recipe as time passes. The culinary study is not only learning the recipes but it also tells you about the geography, climatic conditions, tradition and festival of that particular region. This in-depth knowledge helps you in developing interest in different cultures and also creates a connection with different people. This knowledge can also be shared with the guests during the preparation and the serving time, through this they will not only carry a meal experience but they will carry a bundle of information along with the food.

Culinary art encourages you to live a healthy lifestyle

Various good culinary art programmes teach you about nutrition and healthy eating and its importance. Chefs have now emphasised preparing dishes that are not only delicious but also healthy to provide nutrition to the guests. Many restaurants nowadays offer food for vegans. Farm-to-table restaurants, practices sustainability, and environmental responsibility, by practising it they impress the customers and also take a step toward a greener and safer environment. This act of farm-to-table spread awareness to their customers.

The benefit of studying in culinary school is that you get ample opportunities to roam around the world and get a job anywhere in the world rather than working in a local restaurant at a lower salary. And the experience will be diverse and enlightening. You will also get opportunities to meet Michelin star chefs and get trained by them.  Moreover, you could be trained under different chefs on different skill sets and this enables you to experience and understand the uniqueness of the cuisines.

Culinary arts help you to widen your horizons in many ways. With this, you not only become a professional chef, but it will give you a deeper appreciation for food, culture, food as an art, and more, this can be passed to customers through your culinary efforts. Food is globally a basic necessity, but it is only chefs who endeavour to convert food from simple to extraordinary.

About the author:

Rekha Sharma is an Assistant Professor at Vedatya Institute. She has over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry and academia, with almost seven years in hotel kitchen operations and eight years in academics. She has worked with some of the prestigious hotels & colleges in India, namely Hyatt Regency, ITC Marriot Welcome, Holiday Inn, JayPee Palace, SRM University, IILM Gurgaon, IIHM Delhi and UEI Global.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha