ACC's Culinary program offers aspiring chefs an affordable education

While the claim that Austin is the "Live Music Capital of the World" is debatable, Austin is quite possibly the food capital of Texas. Mexican, German, Korean, Vietnamese and Indian cuisines have all had a profound influence in shaping Austin's food scene, making it a truly international melting pot of flavors. Austin is home to two major specialty grocery retailers, Central Market and Whole Foods, and the surrounding Hill Country is host to a burgeoning wine scene, factors quickly establishing the region as a top destination for foodies.

With Austin's reputation as an up-and-coming food mecca, it should come as no surprise that Austin Community College offers one of the best culinary programs in the Southwest, and at a price that even those not on a Wolfgang Puck-sized budget can afford.

ACC's Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Travel and Tourism and Meeting Planning Programs offer degrees in each respective concentration with Associate of Applied Science and Certificate degree options. Additionally, an Associate of Applied Science degree in Hospitality Management with Baccalaureate Preparation is offered to students seeking to further their education at a 4-year institution.

ACC's Culinary Program is staffed with top local chefs who have enjoyed quite a bit of success on the local food scene. According to Chef Instructor Erika Bongort, "The instructors have, collectively, over 50 years [experience] in the culinary field."

Bongort, who has over 30 years experience in the food business, was introduced to the industry through her family. Her great-grandparents were accomplished bakers and her parents were both educators. It was only natural that she "in turn wanted to educate the next generation of chefs."

Considering that many students enrolled in the Hospitality and Culinary program also work full-time in the industry, classes are scheduled in block time, allowing students to attend class once a week. Classes are held in both the evening and daytime to better accommodate the tight schedules of working students.

"The instructors are really good and it's not $40,000 like TCA [Texas Culinary Academy]," said Gabby Gabibantau, an ACC culinary student who also works two jobs while in school. She plans on going into restaurant management upon completion of the program.

A number of scholarships are available through ACC's Hospitality and Culinary Arts Program, including the prestigious James Beard Foundation scholarship, offered to up to 50 aspiring chefs. Opportunities to study at other top culinary schools in the U.S and abroad are also available through the program. Students who are up to the challenge can study at Providence, R.I.'s prestigious Johnson & Wales University, the French Culinary Institute in New York and Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, among others.

Culinary Arts students receive a well-rounded education at ACC. Students learn about the scientific fundamentals of food, from it's nutritional content and chemical properties to advanced techniques including the preparation of pastries and pates. The unglamorous aspects of the food business, cost control and management, are equally stressed as part of a complete culinary education. Students enrolled in the program can expect to learn the finer points of running a successful business, from the ground up.

Austin Community College culinary students are additionally provided with the chance to hone their skills at the Culinary Arts Program's very own restaurant, Le Bistro and Le Bistrette. Le Bistrette, the program's casual lunch spot, serves an array of sandwiches, soups and salads. With the most expensive item on Le Bistrette's menu priced at only $6, it is an ideal lunch spot for foodies on a budget. Thursday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30, the dining room transforms into its more elegant persona, Le Bistro, offering a fine dining experience for casual dining prices.

Those who find themselves daydreaming about a job in the food business or culinary professionals looking to kick their careers up a notch can do it at ACC's Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program. But, according to culinary student Linda Anders, "Don't forget to bring your appetite!"