If you’ve watched TV at all throughout the past lustrum (a.k.a. five years), you’ve surely noticed the influx of culinary reality shows. No longer is cooking a task reserved for the stay-at-home mom that tunes in to “The French Chef” with Julia Child – men and women alike are joining in on the trend. In fact, some of the most well-known chefs around the world are men.

If you watch for entertainment, or you’re a serious gourmand looking to add recipes to your repertoire, it’s apparent that the culinary business is booming. Just this fall, six new culinary TV shows will be premiering on the Food Network and Cooking Channel, including “Sugar Dome,” “Blind Dinner Party,” “Undercover Critics,” “Eat the Street,” “Man, Fire, Food,” and “Nadia G’s Bitchin’ Kitchen.” This doesn’t include the countless shows that already have a solid fan base, or the spin-off movies such as the recent hit, “Julie & Julia.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of chefs is projected to see growth as the demand for high-quality dishes continues to rise. Working as a chef today isn’t considered as an amateur’s job…professional cooks around the world are regarded with praise.

Whether you’re a parent looking for some cooking tips and dinner ideas or you’re a professional looking for a new career path, what’s holding you back from learning the art of professional cooking? At Dorsey’s Professional Cooking program, students will gain a strong foundation in the culinary arts in all areas needed to succeed in today’s professional kitchens. This is achieved by learning culinary terminology, international cooking techniques, and working with equipment found in professional kitchens. So contact Dorsey Schools to learn more about our professional training programs or to schedule a personal tour, and upon completion of the training, you may be crowned the next “Cupcake Champion” or “Food Network Star.”