CASA - The Chef Apprentice School of the Arts

CASA is a career program, not a drop-in cooking class. Students, called mentees, train one-on-one with a professional chef in a commercial kitchen, usually while the restaurant is closed or slow. Between sessions they cook along at home with CASA's video series. They can also book time with a second, remote mentor for feedback and tasting notes.

The Gourmet Chef Program runs through 20 courses. They cover knife skills, the five mother sauces, potato cookery, charcuterie and garde manger, and ServSafe Food Handler training. It ends with an externship cooking for customers in a working restaurant. Mentees also pitch their own food business idea to investors and get career coaching.

It suits people who want to work in food. Serious hobbyists and culinary school grads who want real kitchen time and industry contacts fit too. CASA says it is selective about who it accepts. Tuition is worked out one-on-one with a mentee advisor. Part-time, full-time, night and weekend schedules are offered. If you want a fun evening class with friends, look elsewhere.