A career in the culinary arts can provide you with a satisfying creative outlet that provides many different kinds of opportunity over the years. This week, the Baltimore Sun reported on a group of local high school students who had participated in a cooking contest involving schools from across Maryland. The winning team reportedly created a three-course gourmet meal in an hour, and was required to stick to a budget and abide by safety and sanitation policies. The contest is said to be part of a program from the National Restaurant Association that helps train young people interested in pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. Students who participated in the competition were also vying for cooking school scholarships and other things. Overall, the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites only a five percent jump in demand between now and 2016 for restaurant managers, although the agency notes that there should still be opportunities within the industry because of its turnover.  |