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Culinary Skills 

Two culinary arts students are working in the kitchen with red chef's hats. They are beside a chef wearing a white chef's hat, mixing food inside a silver bowl.

Being a chef goes beyond loving food – it involves taking creative risks and constantly adapting. If this is the career of which you’ve been dreaming, experience the culinary industry with hands-on learning, and gain foundational skills to launch your career.

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Home / Learn / Programs List / Culinary Skills 
Credential
Ontario College Certificate
Duration
One year or less
Start Date(s)
September (Fall)
Locations
Belleville
Open to
International Students
Domestic Students

Find your career

Gain a well-rounded introduction to the culinary industry.

  • Apply your culinary skills and baking techniques as a line cook or prep cook in various establishments. 
  • Further hone your skills by completing an additional year of study in Loyalist’s Culinary Management program or pursuing an apprenticeship

Our grads get great jobs

  • Owner, The Pink Funnel Food Truck
  • Sous Chef, Parson’s Brewery
  • Cook, Flame + Smith, Bloomfield
  • All positions, The Royal Hotel
  • Sous Chef, The Royal Hotel
  • Cook, The Royal Hotel
  • Executive Chef, Capers, Belleville
  • Head Chef, Beau Bistro
  • Head Chef, Bar Gobo, Vancouver
  • Cook, H.J. McFarland Memorial Home
  • Sous Chef, Fairmont Royal York Toronto
  • Dietary Aide, Hastings Manor Long Term Care, Belleville

Is it for you?

Do you have what it takes? You can succeed in this field if you are:

  • Passionate about food.
  • Skilled at time management.
  • Excellent under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
  • Open to new challenges.

How you'll learn

Experiential learning

Create and innovate under the guidance of distinguished chefs with a rich appreciation of farm-to-table cuisine.

  • Work in the kitchen and dining room of Nourish, Loyalist’s on-campus student-run gourmet restaurant.
  • Students also prepare food for the Loyalist Market, a retail outlet offering an amazing variety of fresh and frozen products prepared by Culinary students.
  • Field trips to local farms, wineries and restaurants connect students to our region’s burgeoning  food and beverage businesses in meaningful ways.
  • Receive individual attention from licensed chefs and Red Seal pastry chefs in small classes.

Courses

MATH1049 Culinary Math

You might be wondering what math has to do with learning to cook and bake. In a nutshell, accurate measurement and costing are the cornerstones of a profitable professional kitchen. The areas of focus in this course are very practical and are taught in straightforward terms; you will leave with an understanding of how to calculate measurement, scale recipes, calculate costs and use Microsoft Excel.

CULN1005 Culinary Techniques 1

Whether you have spent years cooking without ever being formally taught or have never held a knife before, this course covers the basics in culinary techniques. In these weekly, hands-on labs, we will have you slicing and dicing, sautéing and braising, making classical sauces and much more in a food-safe, organized manner. Your learning will be supported through faculty-led demonstrations in small classes with lots of one-on one mentorship using carefully curated recipes.

CULN1008 Culinary Techniques a la Carte 1

Drawing on the skills and knowledge you will gain from your Baking and Culinary Techniques classes, you will have the ongoing opportunity to apply your learning by preparing meals, baked goods and pastries for customers in our on-campus restaurant and newly renovated market. Under the guidance of our chefs, you will gain workplace experience, preparing you to take on a paid role in a professional kitchen with confidence.

FOOD1017 Food Theory 1

In the kitchens at Loyalist you will learn HOW to cook and bake, but in Food Theory class, you will learn about WHY things happen as they do when we select and combine specific ingredients. You will gain an understanding of various types of meat, fish, vegetables, grains and more as well as the nutritional elements of food when we consume it and prepare it for our clients.

CULN1004 Orientation and Safety Training

In preparation for your hands-on learning experiences in the Loyalist kitchen and Resto 213, you will receive certification in Safe Food Handling, Smart Serve and First Aid. Additionally, you will complete training on the standard operating procedures of various pieces of kitchen equipment, basic knife skills, front of house service, conflict resolution and workplace wellness, which will prepare you to complete the program.

FOOD1016 Techniques of Baking 1

Baking class quickly becomes one of the fondest memories of students coming through the program, now enhanced by learning in our state-of-the-art, newly renovated hands-on baking and pastry labs. You will learn how to prepare bread and other yeasted doughs, pies, cakes, éclairs and so much more in small classes with one-on-one demonstration, guidance and support. Whether your passion is baking or cooking, employers tell us that people who can do both are in high demand!

PROF1026 Career Preparation

Putting yourself "out there" to find a job can be very intimidating, but don't worry – we've got you covered! In this course, you will learn the best ways to search for fulfilling employment. You will be introduced to résumé and cover letter writing and gain an understanding of how to navigate the application process in a way that sets you apart. You will learn and practise impactful interview techniques, develop your own portfolio and start to build a professional network that can last a lifetime.

CULN1002 Culinary Techniques 2

Building on the skills that you gained in Culinary Techniques 1, you will continue to develop and refine your abilities in the hands-on lab environment, starting to learn and apply more complex techniques as you progress through the semester. Prerequisite: CULN 1000 or HOSP 1020 or CULN 1005 Prerequisite: CULN 1000 or HOSP 1020 or CULN 1005

CULN1003 Culinary Techniques a la Carte 2

Following your à la carte experience in semester one, you will continue to apply your skills by creating delicious meals, baked goods and pastries for customers in Nourish and the Loyalist market. As your kitchen experience increases, you will be able to start to contribute ideas to discussions about plating and presentation. Prerequisite: CULN 1001 or HOSP 1040 or CULN 1007 or CULN 1008

FOOD1012 Food Theory 2

In Food Theory 2, you will take a deeper dive into the production, selection and preparation of various ingredients, their nutritional properties and the techniques that transform them into cuisine. Prerequisite: FOOD 1009 or FOOD 1017

FOOD1011 Menu Planning

Part of the recipe for success in the restaurant business is creating delicious menus that are profitable. In Menu Planning, you will not only learn how to write enticing menus in an appealing, accurate way but also to perform costing functions that help to ensure that the business will be operating at a profit.

FOOD1013 Techniques of Baking 2

Second semester will find you applying your pastry and baking skills with more confidence and panache; once you have the basics mastered, you will start to develop more precision and flair. Prerequisite: FOOD 1007 or HOSP 1019 or FOOD 1016

GNED1100 Becoming a Global Changemaker

This Loyalist College graduate attributes course will help shape your perspectives, broaden your understanding of important issues affecting our societies today, and equip you with invaluable knowledge and skills that will inform your ability to influence your community in a meaningful and impactful way. By exploring topics such as cultural competency, Indigenous education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, health and wellness, and ecological literacy, you'll be equipped with a powerful toolkit that extends far beyond the classroom.

*Courses subject to change.

A Culinary Arts student scrapes batter out of a container using a spatula in the industrial kitchen. Green graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Admission requirements

Required academic preparation

  • OSSD/OSSGD or equivalent with courses at the general, advanced, (C), (U) or (M) level, AND
  • Grade 12 English (C) level or equivalent

OR

Recommended academic preparation

  • Grade 12 Mathematics

Advanced standing

  • Applicants with prior learning or significant related experience may be eligible for advanced standing through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition.

Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) 

Do you have work experience or other types of non-credentialed learning? Through Loyalist’s PLAR program, applicants and current students may be eligible to receive academic credit for relevant educational, work and life experiences.

Experience with the Canadian Forces

Loyalist’s Culinary programs are recognized by the Canadian Forces:

  • Culinary Skills students can participate in the Subsidized Education Program.
  • Visit forces.ca for details.

International students

Learn more about admission requirements for international applicants and how to apply. 

Costs

Approximate costs (2024 – 25)

  • Domestic Tuition: $2,722.08
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,367
  • Total: $4,089.08

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.

*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies.

Paying for college 

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.

 

Schulich Builders

Students enrolling in this program may be eligible for the Schulich Builders scholarship program.

Schulich Builders covers tuition, tools and living expenses for students enrolling in a skilled trades program. Loyalist College will award ten scholarships per year:

  • Five $20,000 scholarships for one-year certificate programs, and
  • Five $40,000 scholarships for two-year diploma programs.

Learn more and apply today!

Approximate costs (2024 – 25)

  • International Tuition: $15,000
  • Full-Time Ancillary Fees:* $1,367
  • Mandatory Health Insurance: $659
  • Total: $17,026

Additional costs, such as supplies, travel and parking, may be incurred during workplace visits, etc.

*Fees related to programs that are less than or greater than two semesters will be adjusted accordingly. Fees are subject to change. Please visit the Tuition and fees page for a list of the many services, activities and items included within the ancillary fees, and the related policies.

Paying for college 

At Loyalist College, we believe that cost should never be a barrier to your success. We’re here to help you navigate the costs of college and connect you with a variety of financial aid programs, resources and donor-supported awards. Explore paying for college.

A chef in a chef's hat and jacket works carefully over a large metal bowl in the industrial kitchen. Blue graphic circles are in the lower lefthand corner of the image.

Further study

What’s next?

  • With a certificate in Culinary Skills, you can progress directly into year two of the Culinary Management diploma.
  • Pursue an apprenticeship. The foundational culinary skills you gained in the program can help you market yourself to an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice.

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