7 of the Best Schools for Culinary Arts in the Philippines

As educational institutions gradually reopen their doors for face-to-face classes, students are becoming increasingly interested in non-traditional courses. One such course is Culinary Arts, the perfect entrypoint to the fast-growing food and beverage industry in the Philippines. 

While pursuing this line of study is typically associated with being a chef, a well-rounded and hands-on culinary education can offer alternative career opportunities as well. For example, culinary students can also aspire to be restaurant managers, nutritionists, food journalists, beverage professionals, and industry instructors and consultants. Furthermore, there are numerous reputable schools in the country that can equip prospective industry workers with the skills they need to excel in these jobs. 

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in this line of profession, here are seven of the best schools that offer Culinary Arts training in the Philippines: 

Center for Culinary Arts

Inaugurated in 1996 as the country’s very first culinary education institution, the Center for Culinary Arts is arguably the most well-known culinary school in the Philippines. As such, the institution offers a good assortment of diploma courses and short courses that rigorously train aspiring chefs. While their Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurial Management Major in Culinary Arts is a five-year program, their specialized diploma courses will take a maximum of only two years to complete. Meanwhile, their short courses include Professional Chef Plus, Fundamentals in Culinary Arts, Fundamentals in Baking & Pastry Arts, and Culinary Team Bonding. 

Enderun Colleges

Enderun Colleges is one of the country’s leading institutions for hospitality entrepreneurship. Under the Enderun Extension School, the Culinary Arts department offers a five-month program for a Certificate in Culinary Arts and an eight-month program for a Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts And Kitchen Management. The Pastry Arts department also offers two similar programs of the same duration with their respective specialization. Most notably, these departments are led by well-known industry veterans such as former Hyatt Regency Manila chef See Cheong Yan and award-winning pastry chef Laetitia Moreau. 

Ateneo de Manila University

Since Ateneo de Manila University is most known for its distinguished management courses, the Le Cordon Bleu Institute offers an excellent four-year Bachelor of Science in Restaurant Entrepreneurship program through the Loyola Schools’ John Gokongwei School of Management. A great alternative for aspiring restaurateurs, the program integrates theoretical and practical cuisine management training into the Ateneo’s holistic liberal arts curriculum. Moreover, the institute also offers various short courses and certificate programs of different skill levels and specializations, from Basic Pâtisserie to Superior Cuisine. 

Center for Asian Culinary Studies 

The Center for Asian Culinary Studies was established by Chef Gene Gonzales over a decade ago with the aim of training future culinary practitioners according to internationally competitive standards. The school offers four Professional Programs with different cuisine specializations such as Professional Culinary & Pastry Arts With Restaurant Operation and Professional Food Styling. Moreover, these Professional Programs are all accredited with National Certificate level 4, the highest accreditation that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has ever bestowed on any culinary school.

Treston International College

Under its School of Culinary, Treston International College offers their flagship Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management. Apart from being accredited by the American Culinary Federation, this curriculum was also the very first formal Culinary Management degree program that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) approved in the country. Meanwhile, the college’s Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts also offers master classes and part-time certificate programs that are tailored for professionals who would like to pursue further education. 

Lyceum of the Philippines University

Lauded for its stellar and globally competitive hospitality curriculum, the Lyceum of the Philippines University has been accredited by CHED, TESDA, and the International Center of Excellence for Tourism and Hospitality Education. In particular, their Culinary Institute has five diploma programs and three certification programs for beginners and professionals alike. On top of a small instructor-student ratio and top-of-the-line equipment, students can also expect to engage in a highly practical and hands-on curriculum. 

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management is the country’s only hotel school with a Level IV accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities. Their Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management - Culinary Arts Track helps students develop their skills in basic culinary principles, interpersonal communication, and food service management. 

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