Programs > School of Culinary Arts > Culinary Arts
In Laurel's Culinary Arts 12-month immersive diploma program, you will develop a strong foundation in the art of cooking through theory, technique, and palate training. Our Chef instructors will help train your senses, guiding you through an incredible range of tastes and flavors, from herbs and condiments to vegetables and meats.
At Laurel, you’ll also spend a semester, growing and harvesting food in our on-campus garden, serving in our School Restaurant 'Gigi's Table' and work to create community events that celebrate and engage local farmers and producers. You will also gain practical experience with these skills through on-the-job training in three separate internship rotations at some of our region's leading culinary providers.
You will also learn the development of culinary techniques such as:
- Knife skills
- Dry and moist heat cooking methods
- Baking skills
- Menu planning
- Local sourcing
- Sanitation
- Sanitation and Safety
- Sustainability, Horticulture & Local Sourcing
- Food & Beverage Management
- Baking, Pastry & Dessert Essentials
- International Cuisines
- Butchery
- Culinary Fundamentals
- Menu Planning
Laurel's program prepares you to take the following industry-recognized credentials:
Features & Benefits
Things that make Laurel great
Hands-On Training
Laurel is able to offer hands-on training and experiential learning opportunities through our student restaurant, Gigi's Table. Laurel's culinary kitchen and restaurant is open to the public for a full, dine in & take-out service. With work completed by our students, these experiences help build qualified and experienced professionals.
Experiential Learning
Laurel offers experiential learning opportunities to our Culinary Art students in our gardens and greenhouse*. Fresh ingredients are available for our students to learn how to grow and use while working in the classroom. Our students have the opportunity to grow the tools that they will use to succeed in their program of study!
*Greenhouse housed at LTI is a partnership with Whole Life Services and The Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce
Family Environment
Laurel is a family-oriented organization where we treat everybody as a member of the Laurel family by not only knowing each of our student's names, but by being interested in the success of each and every student. We offer small class sizes at convenient locations with providing excellence and quality education in mind.
Use these quick links to read more about some of the ways Laurel incorporates experiential education in our programs!
Experiential
Learning
Student
Resources
Immersive Learning
Technology
Gigi's Table Student Restaurant at LTI
Laurel Technical Institute Sharon Satellite is pleased to announce the opening of the Culinary Arts student restaurant, Gigi’s Table. The space will be open to serve the public as well as prepare takeout meals for the community. Gigi’s is the finishing line for all our students hard work. Preparing delicious dishes such as healthy soups, light lunches and hearty dinners all while learning about food and beverage operations.
Laurel's on-site restaurant gives students the opportunity to build skills in the type of environment that they can expect in future career options. It allows for professional interaction with members of the community and gives them the opportunity to practice skills in the very environment they started learning in. We really look forward to making you a delicious meal to showcase our student’s hard work!
Bright Outlook Occupation: Culinary Arts
Learn more about Laurel's internship program.
Laurel encourages all prospective students to fully research employment opportunities when choosing a program of study. Please click the links below to learn more.
The U.S. Department of Labor and the National Center for O*NET Development published a list of “Bright Outlook Occupations*,” which allows individuals to view and research popular, in-demand occupations in a specific field of study. Laurel is dedicated to preparing students and graduates for those “bright” employment and career opportunities and helping our local employers find their perfect candidates. Bright Outlook Occupations are jobs that are expected to grow rapidly in the next several years, are predicted to have a large number of job openings, and include new and emerging occupations in high-growth industries!