Culinary Schools in San Francisco

Global Dining in San Francisco

From the Sunset District in the west to Hunter's Point in the east to the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge in the north and all of the fascinating historic and notorious neighborhoods in between, San Francisco has it all. With world-class theaters, museums and art galleries, it is a performing and visual arts and entertainment destination for all of northern California. Its faithful 49ers and Giants fans see it as a sports lover's dream city. Tourism and the tech industry drive San Francisco's economy. The San Francisco Center for Economic Development notes that as a gateway to the expanding Pacific Rim, the city nurtures "healthy investment climates for companies throughout the world."

San Francisco culinary scene: Diner-centric eclectic

And this City by the Bay is no slouch when it comes to its culinary scene. A yearly census conducted by the NPD Group shows that in fall 2012, there were 16,576 restaurants in San Francisco, according to an article on The Huffington Post. That places San Francisco in the No. 12 spot on the list of top restaurant-crazy cities in the U.S. Its restaurants and chefs appear every year as James Beard Awards finalists and 2013 is no exception. Finalist nominees include:

• Outstanding Restaurant: The Slanted Door
• Best New Restaurant: Rich Table and State Bird Provisions (2 of only 5 finalists)
• Outstanding Chef: Gary Danko of Restaurant Gary Danko
• Outstanding Pastry Chef: Melissa Chou of Aziza
• Rising Star Chef: Thomas McNaughton of Flour + Water and Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese (2 of only 5 finalists)

Three of the five nominees for the prestigious Best Chef: West are also from San Francisco -- Chris Cosentino of Incanto, Corey Lee of Benu, and Daniel Patterson of Coi.

Many things contribute to the eclectic culinary style of San Francisco, but there are a number of similarities that resonate with all San Francisco chefs - farmers markets with fresh local produce, local artisanal cheeses and meats, seafood fresh off the boat, and world-class wines from local NorCal wineries. The final ingredient is San Francisco's "eaters," who care about what they eat, where it comes from and how it's made. From Moroccan food at Aziza on Geary to the burgers at Zuni Café on Market, Eater/San Francisco's list of 38 top restaurants in the city echoes the chefs nominated for the James Beard awards.

San Francisco culinary schools: Golden gate to education

San Francisco is one of the top three metro areas for education, with more than 50 percent of county residents holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 21 percent of residents between the ages of 25 and 34 years old (U.S. Census: 2007-11, American Community Survey). An internationally renowned, unique and beautiful city that is restaurant-crazy, filled with award-winning chefs, surrounded by a bay and an ocean with young and well-educated residents sounds like the perfect place to attend culinary school. And, with over 16,000 restaurants, the possibilities for culinary internships can't be beat.

Sources

"The 38 Essential San Francisco Restaurants, January '13," eater.com, Carolyn Alburger, January 8, 2013, http://sf.eater.com/archives/2013/01/08/the_38_essential_san_francisco_restaurants_january_13.php
"Demographic and Housing Estimates for 2007-2011," American Community Survey, San Francisco County, U.S. Census Bureau, http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/11_5YR/DP05/0500000US06075%7C0400000US06
"Best Restaurant Cities: 15 U.S. Metro Areas With The Most Eateries Per Capita," The Huffington Post, Joe Satran, updated March 13, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/best-restaurant-cities_n_2545499.html#slide=2022836
"Good news for S.F. economy thanks to tourism, tech," San Francisco Examiner, Dan Schreiber, March 28, 2012, http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/03/good-news-sf-economy-thanks-tourism-tech-0
"James Beard Awards 2013: Restaurant & Chef Finalists Announced," The Huffington Post, updated March 18, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/james-beard-awards-2013-finalists_n_2867988.html
"San Francisco's culinary scene begins at city-wide farmers markets," San Francisco Travel, Thouseman, 2012, http://www.sanfrancisco.travel/media/san-franciscos-culinary-scene-begins-at-city-wide-farmers-markets-2.html
"State & County QuickFacts," U.S. Census Bureau, San Francisco County, California, http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/06075.html
"U.S. Total Restaurant Count Increases by 4,442 Units over Last Year, Reports NPD," January 23, 2013 Press Release, The NDP Group, https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/us/news/press-releases/us-total-restaurant-count-increases-by-4442-units-over-last-year-reports-npd/
"Why SF - the City and Lifestyle," San Francisco Center for Economic Development, 2008, http://www.sfced.org/about-the-city

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