On this page, we have compiled information about the best culinary and pastry schools in the state of Delaware.
The schools included in our list take between a few months and two years to complete and focus on hands-on training.
The selection includes certificate programs and associate degrees that prepare graduates for employment in restaurants and other places that serve food.
Before being ready for your first job as a chef, you have to learn a few skills, such as:
- Checking ingredients
- Following safety and sanitation standards
- Planning menus
- Inspecting supplies
- Monitoring sanitation practices
- Ordering and maintaining an inventory of foods
- And more
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Delaware was $58,810 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $34,650 per year, on average.
As more restaurants and dining places are expected to open, employment for chefs and head cooks across the United States is projected to grow 7 percent by 2034.
Employment for bakers in the United States is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re passionate about food, we encourage you to read our list and find out more about the culinary and baking schools in Delaware.
#1Food Bank of Delaware
About the School
The Food Bank of Delaware offers a Culinary School that provides free training programs that prepare students for new careers.
The workforce training programs in food service are designed to be completed in just 14 weeks.
Tuition, meals, uniforms, and supplies are free.
Students must be available Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for in-person training at the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark and Milford.
The program is certified by the Delaware Department of Education.
Students receive 420 hours of training and work experience over the course of 14 weeks.
They train in the kitchen of the Food Bank of Delaware in Newark and Milford and learn basic and high-end kitchen skills.
Students have the opportunity to become ServSafe certified.
Trainees receive a paid two-week work experience, job placement services, uniforms, textbooks, and a knife.
Students must be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or GED, or be seeking to obtain one.
Reading and math skills at or above the eighth-grade level are also required.
Contact Information
- Address: 222 Lake Drive, Newark, DE 19702
- Phone: (302) 292-130
- Website: https://www.fbd.org
#2Delaware Technical Community College
About the School
Delaware Technical Community College offers a Culinary Arts Associate Degree program.
The program provides students with the basic skills necessary for pursuing a career as a chef.
Graduates can continue their studies towards an advanced degree.
Classes combine classroom lecture and hands-on cooking in the demonstration kitchen.
Students also prepare and serve lunch in the restaurant located on campus.
Trainees must complete a field experience prior to graduation.
Courses Offered
Major learning goals include:
- Performing standard culinary procedures
- Explaining and applying the basic principles of food sanitation and safety
- Using principles of food preparation to produce a variety of hot and cold food products
- Applying the fundamentals of baking science
- Applying the principles of nutrient needs to menu planning and food preparation
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 100 Campus Drive, Dover, Delaware 19904-1383
- Phone: (302) 857-1000
- Website: https://www.dtcc.edu
#3Delaware Pathways
About the School
Delaware Pathways links education and workforce development efforts for youth by offering programs that help them start a career while in school.
The Culinary and Hospitality Management program is a three and six-course Career Technical Education program that is supported by the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation.
The program prepares students for careers as Executive Chef and Sous Chef, Food Service Manager, Kitchen Manager, and Line Cook.
Courses Offered
The sequence of courses includes:
- Fundamentals of Culinary Arts
- Hospitality
- Advanced Food Production
- Hospitality Management
- Culinary
- Nutrition
- Allergens
- Baking
- And more
The program is available at a variety of primary schools, including Caesar Rodney High School, Dover High School, Kent County Intensive Learning, Laurel Senior High School, Seaford Senior High School, Mount Pleasant High School, and more.
The pathway is also available at Delaware Technical Community College, the University of Delaware, and Wilmington University.
Contact Information
- Phone: 302-735-4015
- Website: https://delawarepathways.org
#4Delaware County Community College
About the School
Delaware County Community College helps students turn their passion for food into a real-world career by providing a Culinary Arts program.
Students receive hands-on training from expert chefs.
The programs teach essential kitchen skills, baking techniques, and professional food preparation.
Classes are affordable, local, and beginner-friendly.
The program is available in:
- Delaware County (coming soon)- students will be learning in a state-of-the-art classroom and commercial kitchen learning environment
- Chester County- at the Phoenixville Area Senior Center
Through a combination of academic courses, hands-on training, and an optional internship and externship that teaches students about various food products, cooking methods, and presentation techniques.
Students also learn how to make a range of ethnic and regional cuisines, apply good nutrition principles, and demonstrate safe food handling practices.
Contact Information
- Address: 901 S. Media Line Rd, Media, PA 19063
- Phone: 484-237-6200
- Website: https://www.dccc.edu
#5University of Delaware
About the School
The University of Delaware offers an award-winning faculty, a beautiful, vibrant campus, and opportunities to change the world in the campus labs and classrooms.
Internship and study abroad programs are also offered around the globe.
Courses Offered
Among many other academic pathways, the university offers a Food Science major.
The program covers all the details involved in the development of new ingredients and products.
Course highlights include:
- Introduction to the Science of Food
- From Cow to Cone: The Science and Business of Ice Cream
- Foodborne Diseases: Investigating Outbreaks
- Introduction to Cheese Production
- Food Science Capstone
- Food Sensory Evaluation
Contact Information
- Address: 531 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19716
- Phone: (302) 831-2501
- Website: https://www.udel.edu
#6Bauman College
About the School
Bauman College offers a Holistic Chef program that helps students become professional holistic chefs in 12 months.
The online program teaches students to prepare fresh, nutritious, and delicious foods using sustainable ingredients and practices.
Courses Offered
The program combines professional culinary techniques with a nutrition-centered approach to food preparation– in addition to teaching the business skills students need in order to advance their careers.
The curriculum and culinary classes include entrepreneurial lessons that give students the tools to succeed as professional chefs.
The college offers its students the opportunity to work in a real-world environment in their home region and prepare them to enter the workforce after completing the Holistic Chef program.
The culinary arts program is available to all residents of Delaware.
Contact Information
- Address: 5900 Doyle Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
- Phone: (800) 987-7530
- Website: https://baumancollege.org
#7Humanity's Kitchen Cooking School
About the School
Humanity’s Kitchen Cooking School is a nonprofit organization that provides culinary arts training for adults, youth, and children.
The school offers an after-school program and a culinary summer camp.
The following topics of study are covered:
- Baking
- Meat and Poultry Cooking
- Vegetable & Starch Cooking
- Breakfast Cookery
- Soups & Sauces
- Knife Skills
- Home Meal Preparation & Nutrition
A ServSafe Food Handler Certificate is available.
The culinary arts training can be completed in six weeks.
Humanity’s Kitchen is an approved Trade school through the Delaware Department of Education.
Contact Information
- Address: 1900 N. Tatnall Street, Wilmington, DE 19802
- Phone: (302) 444-8609
- Website: https://www.humanityskitchen.org
#8Culinary Institute of America
About the School
The Culinary Institute of America offers a variety of online programs for students who are looking to upgrade their resumes and improve their career prospects.
The online degrees are designed for food industry professionals.
Master’s programs that include short residencies at the school’s California and New York campuses are available.
The bachelor’s program is delivered exclusively online.
Courses Offered
The Bachelor’s Degree is designed for CIA Associate Graduates Only.
Students need to have at least four years of full-time, progressive work experience after graduating from the institute’s associate degree program.
This gives them the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without interrupting their work schedule.
Students get comprehensive food-specific skills.
They explore topics such as economics, sustainability of food systems, and key principles of business leadership.
Up to 30 transfer credits from a college other than CIA can be applied to complete the degree even faster.
Contact Information
- Address: 312 Pearl Parkway, Building 2, Suite 2102, San Antonio, TX 78215
- Phone: 800-CULINARY
- Website: https://www.ciachef.edu
#9The Chef Apprentice School
About the School
The Chef Apprentice School offers flexible scheduling options that allow students to create customized learning experiences that best suit their needs.
The six-month programs are designed to work the way the culinary world actually operates at a fraction of the cost of traditional culinary schools.
Tuition is under $15,000.
There are no hidden fees and costs.
Courses Offered
The CASA Gourmet Chef program breaks down into three core areas:
- Home Study
- Bootcamp
- Externship
Students receive 24 hours of instruction on techniques and recipes, featuring six pro chefs.
Bootcamp is hybrid learning with a home curriculum and a private chef instructor either at the student’s home, Private Chef’s restaurant, or live online.
Once they are ready, students gain real-world experience through 100 hours of externship.
The course plan includes the following topics:
- Introduction to Culinary Arts
- Menus, Measuring, and Recipes,
- Equipment Identification
- Stocks, Sauces, and Soups
- Cooking Methods
- Vegetable Cooking Methods
- Meat and Game Identification
- Meat Alternatives
- And more
Contact Information
- Phone: (872) 224-4322
- Website: https://casaschools.com
#10Escoffier School of Culinary Arts,
About the School
An online Culinary Arts program is provided by Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, a school that offers a business-focused curriculum with programs that may include topics in business and entrepreneurship.
Financial aid is available for students who qualify.
Courses Offered
The following paths are available:
- Culinary Arts
- Plant-Based Culinary Arts
- Baking & Pastry Arts
- Holistic Nutrition & Wellness
- Food Entrepreneurship
- Hospitality & Restaurant Operations Management
Escoffier offers an online Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations and an Associate of Occupational Studies Degree in Culinary Arts.
The programs provide students with a basic understanding of culinary techniques and practical business skills that can set students apart from their peers.
Students can complete their training in 60 weeks.
The online culinary arts programs are designed to work with students’ schedules.
An online diploma in Professional Pastry Arts and an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Baking & Pastry are also available.
Diploma courses include:
- Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry
- Menu Design and Management
- Contemporary Pastry Arts
- Foundations of Bread
- Foodservice Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 637 South Broadway, Suite H, Boulder, CO 80305
- Phone: 877-249-0305
- Website: https://www.escoffier.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Delaware
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$44K
|
|
|
$67K
|
|
|
$86K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Delaware
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 80 | $57,620 | $27.70 | $77,990 | $40,820 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
If you live in Delaware and you want to turn your passion for food into a rewarding career, the schools included in our list can prepare you with the skills you need to get started.
Now that you have read our list, it’s time to continue your research and apply for the program that best meets your requirements.
