For as many chefs there are in the world, there are an equal number of reasons to become interested in careers in the culinary arts. Some professional cooks see the job as the mastery of a traditional craft or the advancement of healthy lifestyles. Others relish the opportunity to find creative ways to make a meal both tasty and nutritious, likening their dishes to works of art.

Last week in Norman, Oklahoma, an organization of affiliated artists, the Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation, hosted the state's first edible art show to showcase tasty concoctions like coconut beer and visual spectacles like chocolate covered cherries and oranges arranged in the likeness of a setting sun, the Norman Transcript reports.

Amber Clour, the executive director of Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation, told the news source that the event was suggested by a local artist in order to highlight the host of local talent.

"I thought Oklahoma can totally do this," she said.

Those interested pursuing careers in the culinary arts may be drawn by the seemingly limitless reaches of the industry, exemplified by a vanilla beer float with ice cream, which was featured at the event.

Research by the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that the culinary industry will experience one of the largest increases in new jobs until 2016, predicting about 351,000 positions will be created over that span.