L’Academie de Cuisine Announces Professional Pastry Arts Program, Evening Session

L’Academie de Cuisine, Gaithersburg, Md., will offer an Evening Professional Pastry Arts Program beginning March 26, 2012. “Due to the success of the Evening Culinary Program and the wide demand for trained pastry arts graduates, L’Academie has launched an evening professional pastry-arts program that is based on LAC’s daytime program, a Washington, D.C., training ground for some of the area’s most highly acclaimed pastry chefs,” stated Chef Francois Dionot, founder and director of LAC. 

The Evening Pastry Arts Program is specifically intended for individuals who are passionate about making a career change and becoming a pastry chef, but must continue to work during the day. Classes will run three evenings during the week from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for a total of 20 hours per week. The program includes lecture, demonstration and hands-on teaching techniques.

Classes are divided into three phases: Phase I (18 weeks) provides students with pastry fundamentals, building the theoretical foundation and technical skills necessary to become a successful pastry chef. Phase II (18 weeks) provides advanced kitchen training to enhance the students' overall understanding of the professional kitchen and encourage the development of a realistic attitude toward work in the pastry industry. Phases I and II run for nine months total with a one-week break in-between. For Phase III, students work a paid externship in a fine-dining restaurant, catering company, hotel or bakery. For more information, visit www.lacademie.com.