With a record number of tourists and the fastest restaurant job growth in the country, Nevada is a great state in which to begin a culinary career.

By Jessica Santina
RWM Columnist
March 13, 2007

The past decade has been a great one for Nevada's chefs. According to new reports, Las Vegas attracted a record 38.9 million visitors in 2006. Both the number of tourists and the number of jobs in Las Vegas has increased steadily since 2001.

For the past 30 years, Nevada has been one of the fastest-growing states in the country; Las Vegas' population alone doubles about every decade. Industry experts predict that those who pursue culinary careers in Nevada will enjoy tremendous opportunities there in the next decade. Cash in on the culinary career boom by earning an associate of occupational studies (AOS) in Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts.

Nevada's Cookin'
The National Restaurant Association says that restaurant sales will reach a record $537 billion in 2007. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that increasing incomes in American households--especially among Baby Boomers--will continue this trend at least for the next decade.

Nevada, in particular, should experience enormous growth. The Restaurant Association's forecast indicates that Nevada will lead all 50 states in restaurant sales growth in 2007, and will post the second-highest restaurant job growth, with an increase of 25 percent.

Nevada's chefs also enjoy excellent professional development opportunities and working conditions. Approximately three-quarters of all restaurant and hotel workers in Las Vegas are protected by a union contract (nationally, the number is only around 8 percent). Between Nevada's two biggest cities, Las Vegas and Reno, the variety of restaurants in which to learn and further your culinary career is unparalleled. As a bonus, every notable casino hotel in Las Vegas features a celebrity chef--Wolfgang Puck, Emeril, Joel Robuchon, Nobu Matsuhisa, and Alain Ducasse to name a few.

Heat Up Your Culinary Career at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts
An AOS in Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts prepares you for a culinary career with classical cooking methods, all aspects of food preparation, nutrition, and sanitation. Plus, you'll learn to prepare large quantities of food, in an on-site kitchen, with an emphasis on timeliness, procedure, organizational techniques, and product quality. You can even get training in management theory and leadership. No degree program can guarantee a salary, but with an AOS in Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts in Nevada, you can probably expect to earn around $15 per hour, although this will vary by establishment. You'll also be prepared to begin a culinary career in one of the biggest restaurant industries in the country.

Sources

• BBC News, "Las Vegas workers hit pay jackpot"
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers"
• National Restaurant Association
• USA Today, "Celebrity chefs transform Las Vegas dining scene"

About the Author
Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and marketing. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.