6 Reasons to Pick a Charlotte Culinary School

If you were to ask any leading culinary professional about how they got to where they are today, they might tell you that it was a combination of training, experience and hard work. The hard work has to come from you, but the training and experience can both come from attending a culinary arts school. There are hundreds of these schools to choose from, but a number of aspiring culinary students are getting excited about the prospect of studying in Charlotte, North Carolina. This city is an exciting and vibrant destination, and it offers a lot for students who are attending a Charlotte cooking school.

1. Focus on the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

Charlotte is a hub in the Southern United States for education, technology and tourism. All of this means that there is a blossoming hospitality industry, which in turn requires a number of employees at all times. If you plan to attend one of the many excellent chef schools in Charlotte, you can have an easier time of finding a culinary position after graduation.

2. Southern Charm and Plenty of Southern Cuisine

If the charm of the American South appeals to you, then you will love that Charlotte’s location is definitely in the epicenter of it all. Of course, Southern cuisine is also alive and well in the city, and you will have the opportunity to learn how to make traditional greens, savory cornbread in a cast-iron skillet, the ubiquitous barbecue pork served in the city and a range of tasty favorites loves below the Mason-Dixon Line.

3. Exciting Annuals Events and Festivals

Part of the excitement of Charlotte revolves around the number of events, concerts and festivals that take place in the city each year. While there are simply too many to list, a few of the most popular include the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show, Festival in the Park, the Charlotte International Auto Show and the Taste of Charlotte Food Festival.

4. Countless Attractions

Since you won’t be spending all of your time in the kitchen, having access to great attractions is a big plus. Charlotte is home to NASCAR races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, The Mint Museum, Discovery Place and the recreation facilities at the U.S. National Whitewater Center.

5. Vibrant Nightlife

One of the biggest perks of attending Charlotte culinary schools is being able to enjoy the city’s vibrant nightlife. There are dozens of options for dancing, cheap drinks, live music and late-night dining with friends after your restaurant shift ends.

6. Culinary Diversity

Along with Southern cuisine, Charlotte boasts a culinary landscape full of eclectic and international options. You can find tasty Greek favorites at Showmars, incredible pizza from Brixx, Californian-Baja fare from Cabo Fish Taco, Northern Indian dishes from Maharani Indian Cuisine and even a handful of authentic dim sum restaurants in the Plaza-Midwood area of Charlotte.

The city of Charlotte is an exciting and vibrant destination, and it can be the perfect place to train for your culinary career.

Charlotte’s Best Traditional Southern Restaurants

With a location in the heart of North Carolina, the city of Charlotte is the epitome of a traditional Southern destination. Locals speak with a charming accent, the winters are nowhere near as cold as they are on in the Northeast or the Midwest and there are plenty of beautiful scenic attractions nearby. Despite the population of more than two million residents, the neighborhood makeup of the city makes it seem like a collection of small towns, which helps to create a more friendly and inviting atmosphere for visitors. Of course, a large part of the traditional Southern culture is the cuisine. Whether you are hoping to enjoy a classic breakfast of biscuits and white sausage gravy or you have a hankering for fried chicken, you can find it all in the city. Here are some of the area’s top restaurants that serve traditional Southern fare.

Dish

Although Southern food often has a reputation for being fatty or overcooked, Dish shows diners how wrong that assumption is through the use of fresh local ingredients. The restaurant looks like a traditional Southern diner, and many passersby think that it is any one of the many similar eateries in the area. However, all of the food is made completely from scratch, and it is like dining at your own grandmother’s table. The menu is extensive, and almost everything is a classic Southern dish. For appetizers, start with fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese dipping sauce or even Cajun meatloaf sliders. Entrees include everything from shrimp and grits to chicken and dumplings.

Price’s Chicken Coop

There is no denying that one of the most ubiquitous Southern foods is fried chicken. Although you might be able to order fried chicken around the world, only the best Southern chefs known the tricks of the trade to create chicken that is moist and juicy on the inside and coated in a flavorful and crispy coating. At Price’s Chicken Coop, fried chicken is the specialty. Diners can choose from a range of fried chicken pieces as well as all of the traditional side dishes. For under seven dollars, you can enjoy a quarter of an entire fried chicken, homemade coleslaw, hushpuppies, fried potato wedges and freshly baked rolls. Pair the meal with a large glass of sweet tea, a popular and refreshing beverage in North Carolina.

Simmon’s Soul Food

Soul food is an integral part of Southern cuisine, and this city has more than its fair share of great soul food eateries. One of the best is Simmon’s, a favorite among locals. The restaurant has been open for more than 30 years, and many of the patrons are celebrity athletes, performers and actors. Some of the bestsellers on the menu include baked chicken, pork chops, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, biscuits and slow-cooked bacon collard greens. If you are searching for traditional soul food in the South, look no further than Simmon’s.

The Penguin

Although the menu is full of classic Southern comfort foods, The Penguin looks nothing like your traditional family diner. The Penguin is located in an artsy area of the Plaza-Midwood District in the city, and the decor and ambiance reflects that. It was featured on the popular television show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, which has only made the staff step up their game to deliver even better food. Although much of the menu is relatively traditional, with things like Brunswick stew, fried chicken and cornbread, the chefs pick up on food trends and play with the offerings slightly, such as with the creation of spicy fried pickles.

Each of these incredible Southern restaurants offers locals and visitors to Charlotte a wonderful dining experience that won’t soon be forgotten. Lots of people love to eat delicious food; others like to prepare it. If you’re thinking about earning a culinary degree, you can find great cooking schools all over the country. Start your search at Cooking-Culinary-Arts-Schools.