Culinary Arts, A.A.S.
Overview
SUNY Niagara’s Culinary Arts degree program provides students with hands-on as well as theoretical aspects of foodservice. Graduates enter the job market with above entry-level skills and a background which enhances their chances for upward mobility.
Student instruction is provided in our state-of-the-art teaching kitchens fully equipped with modern industry and technological equipment. The students gain valuable industry experience by spending time in courses directly connected with our NFCI’s restaurant “Savor.” The students will rotate through the restaurant, experiencing all of the aspects of running a hospitality-driven business. In addition to this applied learning experience provided in our establishment, the students will also be placed on one appropriate industry-related internship off-campus.
Program Goals and Objectives
- To provide students with the basic knowledge of culinary techniques that will prepare them for employment.
- To assist students in completing four to five general education areas.
- Demonstrate an understanding of kitchen etiquette and professionalism.
- Apply proper sanitation and safety techniques while demonstrating proper knife handling and care for equipment.
- Apply purchasing principles to the operation of a foodservice operation.
- Demonstrate new trends and classical principles in the production of quality plated entrées.
- Demonstrate an understanding of culinary foundations.
- Differentiate between the many types of classical saucier.
Required Uniform & Required NFCI Kits:
- Purchased from The NFCI Barnes & Noble Bookstore
- Culinary Arts Knife Kit:
- Required for Culinary Arts AAS & Culinary Arts Certificate Majors
- Baking & Pastry Arts Kit:
- Required for Baking & Pastry Arts AAS & Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate Majors
- Uniform Recommendation
- It is recommended that all (Culinary Arts) and (Baking & Pastry Arts) majors, purchase at least 2 full uniforms.
- Additional Tuition & Fee Information:
- Locker Rental:
- NFCI / SUNY Niagara Parking:
- At NFCI see Public Safety with the parking ramp ticket that was used to open the ramp gate when entering the NFCI ramp. Public Safety can scan and validate that ticket for the semester. There is no additional upfront cost for parking validation for students. Parking is covered under student fees.
- At SUNY Niagara see Public Safety for a student parking Hang Tag (SUNY Niagara). There is no additional upfront cost for parking validation for students. Parking is covered under student fees.
- Student Housing & Meal Plan Information / Rates
- Hair
- Students who have long hair must tie hair back/ up and place it under their skull cap, or wear a tight braid in back only.
- Facial Hair must be kept trimmed & neatly groomed.
- Piercings
- Piercings other than single studded earing placed in the ears are not permitted and must not be visible while in uniform / lab. No facial piercings of any kind.
- Facial piercings that can be covered by a face mask may be worn as long as the student wears an appropriate face covering at all times.
- Permitted Jewelry
- Wedding Band……..Watch…….Single Studded Earrings (in Ears only)
- Fingernails
- Fingernails should not exceed 1/8th of an inch past the fingertip and should be free of nail polish and or nail art etc….
- 30 to 1 ratio for sole lecture-based classes
- 16 to 1 ratio for standard Culinary / Pastry Lab Classes
- 10 to 1 ratio for Savor Restaurant Based Culinary Lab Classes
- 6 to 1 Ratio for Savor Dining Room Service Lab Classes
- 10 to 1 Ratio for La Patisserie Based Pastry Lab Class
- 8 to 1 Ratio for Savor Pastry Based Lab Class
Applying to The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute / SUNY Niagara is the first step toward achieving the goal of a high-quality education. SUNY Niagara has an “open enrollment” admission policy to admit applicants who have graduated from an accredited high school or have a high school equivalency diploma. Students who have not completed high school will meet with an admissions advisor to discuss completing the high school equivalency at SUNY Niagara as well as other options. https://sunyniagara.edu/admissions/
Information available at – https://sunyniagara.edu/scholarships/ Scholarships unique to the programs’ students are as follows:
- ACF of Greater Buffalo Scholarship – $750.00 Spring Semester
- Available to Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts Students who are members of the American Culinary Federation
- ACF Monte Dolce Memorial Scholarship $750.00 Fall Semester
- Available to Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts Students who are members of the American Culinary Federation
- ACF William Metzgar Memorial Scholarship $500.00 Fall Semester
- Available to Baking & Pastry and Culinary Arts Students who are members of the American Culinary Federation
Faculty Spotlight
Scott Steiner, CCE, AAC
Chef Scott Steiner, Assistant Professor and Culinary Arts Program Coordinator at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) has been a faculty member at NFCI since the building opened in August 2012, and was instrumental in getting the culinary arts program accredited by the ACF. Having a passion for working with food at an early age, Chef Steiner knew that culinary arts were a perfect career option for him. In August 2019, Chef Steiner was awarded the American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Chef Educator of the Year Award at the ACF Conference in Orlando.
Complete your associate degree within a year and a half! Students will have an opportunity to complete courses in American Cuisine, Beverage Management, Breakfast & Lunch, Culinary Foundations, Front of the House Experience, Garde Manger, Industry Experience, International Cuisine, Meat and Seafood Fabrication, Nutrition, Principles of Baking, Restaurant Experience 1 & 2, and Saucier.
