Best Culinary – Baking & Pastry – Hospitality Schools in Texas
Texas, also known as the "Lonestar State," is home to a number of the best culinary schools you can find. What makes the top or best culinary school really depends on what you are looking for and fits your needs including location, courses, cost and financial aid.
Texas is a melting pot of Mexican, Southern, and Western traditions. This mixing of cultures is evident in almost every aspect of the state, even down to the breakfast burrito, which was invented in Texas.
While the state of Texas has a long history with the oil industry, cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin all boast a healthy tourism and culinary industry. In addition to large amounts of commercial fishing, the food industry in Texas is also influenced in large part by the cattle industry.
As such, culinary students in Texas are privileged to learn about regional barbecue traditions while using some of the freshest and finest ingredients around.
Read, Read and Read Some More
One of the best suggestions I have for anyone thinking of going to culinary school or just getting into the restaurant industry is to read everything you can get your hands on. Learn from professional chefs who have worked in the industry and those who have taught in culinary schools.There are many great books available to get you started in your culinary education and I suggest you read as much as possible before making that big decision to make sure this is the right move for you. Below is just a sample of books you might be interested in checking out.
For a much more comprehensive list of books for aspiring culinary, baking and restaurant management students, I suggest checking out my post on books for future culinary students and chefs.
MY TOP 12 CULINARY SCHOOLS IN TEXAS
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Austin is committed to sustainability and “green” living. The school is dedicated to sustainable farming and promoting knowledge about farm-to-table eating. Whenever possible, Auguste Escoffier works to reduce its environmental impact by recycling, composting, as well as sourcing local products for classroom use.
Austin Campus - 6020-B Dillard Circle – Austin, TX 78752
The Culinary School of Fort Worth
The Culinary School of Fort Worth is a Nationally Accredited Culinary Institution that offers a more personal, hands-on approach to education for its culinary students. Their small teacher-to-student ratio allows students to be prepared for an exciting career in the industry. If you have a high appreciation of excellence, a passion for food, and want to realize your dreams of a fulfilling life in the food world, you belong at The CSFTW.
Fort Worth Campus - 6550 Camp Bowie Blvd, Ste 110 Fort Worth, TX 76116
Del Mar College
Culinary Arts at Del Mar College is a comprehensive training program designed to prepare the student to enter an exciting career in the fast-paced workplaces of the food industry. The Hospitality Program is designed to prepare students to enter into the hospitality industry. The program provides a quality education that incorporates theory and practice through one certificate program and one Associate in Applied Science degree.
Corpus Christi Campus - 101 Baldwin Blvd - Corpus Christi, TX 78404
Tarrant County College
Their program is designed to prepare you to enter a career in commercial food preparation for hotels, restaurants and clubs. They offer the only comprehensive program of study in Tarrant County. Faculty with years of professional experience teach our courses in state-of-the-art food service and dining facilities on Southeast Campus. Controlled class size allows for individual attention.
Arlington Campus - 2100 Southeast Pkwy - Arlington, TX 76018
Collin County Community College
A part of the college’s Institute of Hospitality and Culinary Education (IHCE), Collin’s Culinary Arts program will prepare you for a variety of food preparation positions and for career advancement in the food service industry.
The program curriculum emphasizes a broad selection of hands-on food preparation courses, building on culinary foundation skills that will allow you to be effective in a commercial kitchen environment. The curriculum is designed by industry experts and taught by experienced food service management professionals, and the program is fully accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.
Frisco Campus - 9700 Wade Blvd., Frisco, 75035
St. Philip's College
The Mission of the Department of Tourism, Hospitality, and Culinary Arts is to provide program majors with the competencies needed to be successfully employed in the tourism, hospitality, and culinary arts industries and to provide the college and greater community with continuing professional and technical skills and life-long learning opportunities.
San Antonio Campus - 1801 Martin Luther King Dr, San Antonio, TX 78203
Austin Community College
ACC’s Culinary Arts Program helps you prep for this fast-paced profession with the skills to direct a kitchen staff, plan a menu, and present a full aesthetic experience. You’ll practice your skills with actual customers at ACC’s student-run restaurants.
Austin Campus - 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, Texas 78752
El Centro College
El Centro College offers three program paths featuring classroom instruction, hands-on participation and work-related experience to prepare you for three food service careers: Bakery/Pastry, Culinary Arts and Food and Hospitality Service. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex’s thriving tourist and convention businesses create strong demand for qualified personnel in a competitive food and hospitality industry.
Dallas Campus - 3330 N. Hampton Road - Dallas, TX 75212
National American University
The National American University in Austin, Texas offers a Business Administration, emphasis in Tourism & Hospitality Management Bachelor of Science degree.
National American University - 13801 Burnet Rd. Ste 300, Austin, TX 78727
The Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America, famous for its New York campus, also has a school located in San Antonio. The CIA San Antonio campus is home to a diverse and energetic community of food lovers with a special interest in Latin cuisine. They welcome students seeking a culinary or baking and pastry arts career, entrepreneurs looking to launch new ventures in the food business, or homegrown chefs just looking to expand their skills for friends and family.
San Antonio Campus - 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Suite 2102 San Antonio, TX 78215
MORE TEXAS SCHOOLS BY CITY
| Abilene | Abilene Christian University | Foods & Nutrition Studies |
| Alvin | Alvin Community College | Culinary Arts, Culinary Management |
| Arlington | Tarrant County College | Culinary Arts |
| Austin | Austin Community College | Culinary Arts |
| Beaumont | Lamar University - Beaumont | Hospitality Management |
| Cedar Hill | Northwood University - Cedar Hill | Hospitality Services Management |
| Corpus Christi | Del Mar College | Baking and Pastry Specialization |
| Dallas | El Centro College | Baker/Pastry |
| Denison | Grayson County College | Culinary Arts |
| Denton | Texas WomanS University | Culinary Science & Food Service Management |
| Denton | University of North Texas | Hospitality Services Management |
| El Paso | El Paso Community College | Culinary Arts |
| Fort Worth | The Culinary School of Fort Worth | Culinary Arts and Pastry Arts |
| Frisco | Collin County Community College-Central Park | Culinary Arts |
| Galveston | Galveston College | Culinary Arts |
| Garland | Remington College | Culinary Arts |
| Houston | Culinary Institute Alain & Marie LeNotre | Baking and Pastry Arts |
| Houston | Houston Community College System | Baking & Pastry Arts |
| Houston | San Jacinto College - North Campus | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| Houston | University of Houston - University Park | Hotel & Restaurant Management |
| Huntsville | Sam Houston State University | Family and Consumer Sciences-Food Service Management |
| Killeen | Central Texas College | Hospitality Management |
| Laredo | Laredo Community College | Culinary Arts |
| Lubbock | Texas Tech University | Food Sciences and Tech. |
| Marshall | Wiley College | Hospitality Services Management |
| Mcallen | South Texas Community College | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| Mount Pleasant | Northeast Texas Community College | Culinary Arts & Related Services |
| Nacogdoches | Stephen F Austin State University | Hospitality Services Management |
| Odessa | Odessa College | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| Pasadena | San Jacinto College - Central Campus | Culinary Arts/Chef Training |
| San Antonio | St Philips College | Baking & Pastry Arts |
| San Antonio | The Culinary Institute of America | Culinary Arts |
| Waco | Texas State Technical College | Culinary Arts |
