If you’re passionate about food and cooking and you want to start a career in the culinary world, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best culinary and pastry schools in Vermont.
The schools included in our list offer certificate programs and associate degrees, preparing students for careers as station chefs, sous chefs, pastry chefs, restaurant managers, catering managers, and other food service specialist roles through hands-on training.
The programs focus on teaching skills such as:
- Food preparation
- Culinary safety and sanitation
- Baking principles
- Contemporary cuisine.
During their training, students get to practice the skills learned in class in a full-functioning restaurant.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage reported by chefs and sous chefs in Vermont was $64,870 as of May 2023, while bakers reportedly made $37,250 per year, on average.
Both professions are expected to grow in the future, as more restaurants are expected to open.
If you want to become a part of the culinary world, you will spend between a few months and a few years completing your training, depending on the credential you want to pursue.
Many schools offer flexible schedules, so students are able to keep their jobs while preparing for a new career.
We encourage you to read our list and choose the format that works best for you.
#1Green Mountain Technology & Career Center
About the School
Green Mountain Technology & Career Center is a cutting-edge career and technical education center that prepares students in grades 10th, 11th, and 12th through the acquisition of real-world skills.
College courses are offered through Dual Enrollment and Fast Forward.
Courses Offered
The Culinary Arts program is designed for students who want to explore careers as chefs, cooks, bakers, pastry chefs, dining room managers, etc.
Culinary Arts courses include:
- Kitchen & Dining Room Safety
- Hospitality Industry Careers
- Food Preparation
- Food Science & Nutrition
- Food Service Math
- Customer Service
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 738 VT-15, Hyde Park, VT 05655
- Phone: 802-888-4447
- Website: https://gmtcc.lnsd.org
#2St. Johnsbury Academy
About the School
St. Johnsbury Academy offers a Culinary Arts I program that teaches the foundations of professional food service.
The program teaches professional baking and pastry for one semester in the Streeter Hall bakeshop.
Students are exposed to a broad spectrum of techniques and high-quality products.
Culinary Prep Skills are taught at the Hilltopper Restaurant.
Students rotate through all the stations of the cafe, preparing food for the restaurant.
Areas of study include:
- Yeast dough production
- A la carte desserts
- Wedding-cake design
- Soups, stocks
- Meat fabrication and sauces
- Nutrition
- ServSafe
- And more
Students also have the opportunity to participate in off-premise catering, fine-dining dinner, and community service.
The program is open to Juniors and Seniors.
Sophomores may have access by permission only.
Contact Information
- Address: 1000 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, Vermont 05819
- Phone: (802) 748-8171
- Website: https://stjacademy.org
#3River Valley Technical Center
About the School
River Valley Technical Center provides Career Technical Education to prepare students for college and careers.
The Culinary Arts program at the center allows students to learn from chef-instructors and to discover their inner creativity while using industry-level commercial kitchen equipment.
The class operates as an actual food service facility.
Students are exposed to proper care and operation of kitchen equipment while preparing and serving food in the center’s restaurant.
The program covers:
- The basics of safety, sanitation, and knife skills
- Menu development
- Recipe conversions
- Food cost percentage
- How to follow recipes
- And more
Students may also earn a national credential, ServSafe, through the National Restaurant Association and college credit through New England Culinary Institutes’ online program.
The program is open to students in grades 11th and 12.
Students in grade 10 may also be eligible with permission.
Contact Information
- Address: 307 South Street Springfield, Vermont 0515
- Phone: (802) 885-8300
- Website: https://rvtc.org
#4Patricia A Hannaford Career Center
About the School
Patricia A Hannaford Career Center offers a Culinary Arts program that helps students become a chef or restaurateur.
This is a year-long, full-day program that provides a hands-on introduction to the food service industry through the operation of the Glass Onion Eatery- a fully functioning commercial kitchen and restaurant.
Students gain real-world experience in food preparation, restaurant operations, and hospitality since day one.
The first semester focuses on soups, sauces, entrees, breads, desserts, and other foundational skills.
During the second semester, students deepen their expertise with:
- Menu planning
- Costing
- Kitchen management
- Off-campus catering
The program is open to students in grades 11th and 12th.
Students attend classes 240 minutes daily.
Contact Information
- Address: 51 Charles Ave, Middlebury, VT 05753
- Website: https://www.hannafordcareercenter.org
#5Center for Technology, Essex
About the School
The Center for Technology, Essex offers a Professional Foods program that exposes students to the restaurant industry as they rotate through the center’s bakeshop, cafe, and professional kitchens while learning service management and food production.
College credits are available through local Vermont colleges.
First-year students take the following classes:
- Fundamentals of Cooking- three credits
- Baking Science- three credits
- Food Safety- two credits
The Professional Foods Program provides multiple pathways to postsecondary education and careers in the hospitality industry.
Students receive industry-recognized credentials through ServSafe Food Safety Training.
Contact Information
- Address: 2 Educational Drive, Suite 200, Essex Junction, VT 05452
- Phone: 802-879-5558
- Website: https://www.ewsd.org
#6Northwest Career & Technical Center
About the School
Northwest Career & Technical Center offers a Culinary Arts program that gives students the opportunity to work in all areas of foodservice and restaurant management.
Students gain knowledge and workplace readiness skills
The following courses are available:
- Culinary Arts I- a class option for students in grades 10th through 12th with grade-level proficiency in English
- Culinary Arts II and III- an option for students who have met Culinary Arts I proficiencies
The Culinary Arts I program focuses on culinary fundamentals as well as instruction in personal and professional development.
Culinary Arts II and III offer continued exposure to à la carte cooking, career and college planning, supervision and management, and event planning.
Students prepare for post-secondary training in culinary arts, baking and pastry, restaurant management, or for entry-level positions in the food service industry.
Contact Information
- Address: 71 South Main St. Albans, VT 05478
- Phone: 802-527-0614
- Website: https://www.maplerun.org
#7Windham Regional Career Center
About the School
Windham Regional Career Center offers a Culinary Arts program designed to provide foundational culinary skills.
Students work on learning to prepare food by following recipes and instructions, helping build their culinary techniques while working together in teams.
The program has two levels:
- Level I- the program starts with the foundations of kitchen safety and sanitation, including knife skills, equipment care, kitchen flow, and more.
- Level II- students deepen their understanding of techniques and principles of cooking and baking while exploring trends in the food service industry.
Students learn through lecture, lab work, and group work to prepare foods that will be served in the school’s cafe.
The curriculum also covers culinary math, customer service, business management, and workplace skills.
By the end of the program, students will be able to use the skills learned, earn certifications, and have the hands-on practice needed for successful employment.
Contact Information
- Address: 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
- Phone: 802-451-3586
- Website: https://www.wrccvt.com
#8Burlington Technical Center
About the School
Burlington Technical Center offers a well-rounded education for technical fields.
The Culinary Arts program available at the center encompasses many aspects of the food service industry, including practicing and mastering essential safety and sanitation standards, cooking and baking methods, menu and recipe development, nutrition, global cuisine, and more.
Students apply their skills in running a full-service restaurant as well as fulfilling special requests and baked goods.
They can earn up to 10 college credits.
Students can earn the following certifications:
- ServSafe Food Handler
- Customer Service Experience Professional
- Certificate of Achievement.
The program offers the following work-based learning opportunities:
- Job shadow, intern, and/or work in local restaurants and hotels
- Membership and potential competitions in SkillsUSA and the National Technical Honor Society.
Contact Information
- Address: 29 Church Street LL, Burlington, VT 05401
- Phone: (802) 864-8426
- Website: https://btc.bsdvt.org
#9King Arthur Baking Company
About the School
King Arthur Baking Company offers a baking school.
The following classes are available in Vermont:
- Advanced Lamination Techniques
- Afternoon Tea
- Apple Pie
- Artisan Baking at Home
- Artisan II: Bread Intensive
- Artisan Skills Intensive
- Autumn & Winter Macarons
- Bagels & Bialys
- Baguettes
- Bake Sale Bakes
- British Baking Classics
- And many more.
Classes take between a few hours and a few days.
The British Baking Classics class can be completed in three days.
Students learn how to bake muffins, sticky toffee puddings, Bakewell tarts, and more.
Class size is limited to 16 participants.
The program costs $575.
Contact Information
- Phone: (800) 652-3334
- Website: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com
#10Institute of Culinary Education
About the School
The Institute of Culinary Education helps students launch their careers in culinary arts by offering classes in New York, Los Angeles, and online.
The New York campus features 38,000 square feet of space dedicated to learning, innovation, and creativity.
Courses Offered
The following diplomas and degrees are available online:
- Culinary Arts and Food Operations
- Health-Centered Culinary Arts & Food Operations
- Baking and Pastry Arts & Food Operations
- Restaurant & Culinary Management
- Associate Degree: Culinary Arts & Food Operations
- Associate Degree: Baking and Pastry Arts & Food Operations
- And more
The Culinary Arts and Food Operations program provides students with comprehensive and convenient online culinary school training.
The 900-hour intensive culinary school curriculum explores the theory, science, technique, plate development, and culinary business fundamentals.
Contact Information
- Address: 225 Liberty Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10281
- Phone: (888) 354-CHEF
- Website: https://www.ice.edu
Schools Summary Table
Culinary & Pastry Average Salary in Vermont
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$52K
|
|
|
$68K
|
|
|
$89K
|
Culinary & Pastry Salary by Metro Area in Vermont
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | 180 | $66,980 | $32.20 | $81,690 | $55,750 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best culinary and baking schools in Vermont, it’s time to choose the program that best suits you.
This is an important step, so take your time and make sure you choose a school that fits your budget and learning style.
