Culinary Schools in Encino, CA - Chef Apprentice School of the Arts

Get the Real-World Culinary Experience you need at CASA Culinary and Cooking School Encino, CA

Have a flair for the flamboyant, a penchant for pageantry, in the kitchen? Are you thinking of a career in the culinary arts, but a little wary of enrolling in a four-year university or trade school? The Chef Apprentice School of the Arts was created for people like you. Our accelerated programs–and debt-busting tuition–will give you the experience you need to establish yourself in the industry.

Instead of a classroom kitchen, we’ll place you in a real-world, commercial kitchen and pair you with a professional chef that will show you how a kitchen is supposed to run. Your mentor will show you how to get ready for the day, prep a variety of food, and create culinary masterpieces. You’ll also spend extended time in the kitchen during working hours to get the experience–and connections–you need to get work in the industry.

Welcome
to your casa

Establish Yourself in Encino

Located just to the Northwest of downtown Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, Encino offers a wide variety of restaurants serving an array of cuisine–a perfect place to begin a career in the kitchen. Encino is a town that embraces both traditional takes on food and modern mashups.

Because your mentor is an established cook on the local scene, potential employers in the restaurant scene will know you’ve learned the right way to cook in today’s world. Whether it’s the Lakeside Cafe overlooking Los Encinos State Historic Park or the “Chef’s Dinner” tasting menu at Scratch Bar and Kitchen, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see how the pros prepare perfect plates.

FAQs

If you’re looking to become a chef, you may be torn between learning from a traditional teacher or seeking the guidance of a mentor. While both have their benefits, there’s really no substitute for hands-on, real-world experience. That’s where a mentor comes in. By bringing you into their professional kitchen, a mentor can give you the insider knowledge and skills that come from actually working in the industry. From dealing with a crowded lunch rush to cooking up a storm during a busy dinner hour, a mentor gives you a fully immersive experience that can’t be replicated in a classroom.

The CASA Gourmet Chef Program breaks down into 3 core areas: Home Study, Bootcamp, and Externship. With 24 hours of instruction on techniques and recipes, featuring 6 pro chefs, including world-renowned, award-winning Chef Wes Avila, you’ll have all the tools and knowledge necessary to make delicious and impressive meals. Plus, with the hybrid learning of Bootcamp, you’ll get the expertise of a Private Chef Instructor either at your home, a private chef’s restaurant, or in a live online setting. And, if you’re ready to truly step into the culinary world, the 100 hours of externship program offers hands-on experience to hone your skills.

Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to master the art of cooking various appetizers, entrees, soups, salads, and more–more than 130 dishes in all! Furthermore, we will teach you how to work with a variety of ingredients, including beef, seafood, poultry, potatoes, vegetables, dairy, and dry goods. By the end of the program, you will have a strong understanding of how different elements come together to create delicious American, Asian, Italian, French, and other types of cuisine.