SA
Sam Arena
Culinary Arts Program Instructor
AA
Pennsylvania Technical College
CC
Certified Chef
CPC
Certified Pastry Chef
Build Your Career Through a Culinary Arts Program in Pittsburgh, PA
No-Cost 12-Month Culinary Arts Training in Pittsburgh
Campus
Pittsburgh, PA
Length
12 Months
Education Level
Diploma
Work Experience
On Campus Training
Tuition
$0*
Your No-Cost Culinary Arts Training Starts Here
A professional kitchen takes more than a love of food. It calls for technique, timing, teamwork, and confidence.
At Bidwell, you’ll cook, bake, plan menus, and prepare meals in the school’s commercial kitchen. More than 50% of this culinary arts program in Pittsburgh is hands-on, with guidance from chef instructors. In as little as 12 months, you can prepare for entry-level culinary opportunities.
For eligible students, tuition is provided at no cost, helping remove financial barriers so you can focus on preparing for your future. With an 84% employment rate, Bidwell graduates leave ready to pursue opportunities in culinary arts.
NEXT START DATE
September 28th, 2026
Is a Career in Culinary Arts Right for You?
Take the Bidwell Culinary Arts Career Readiness Quiz
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a good fit for.
The best way to see if Bidwell Training Center is the right fit for you is to come in and visit. Tour our facilities and meet with instructors. Book an Appointment Now or Get More Info.
Build Career-Ready Culinary Skills
Cooking Techniques
Prepare stocks, sauces, soups, proteins, vegetables, and more.
Baking and Pastry
Create breads, pastries, cakes, and plated desserts.
Food Safety
Follow professional sanitation and food-handling standards.
Restaurant Operations
Learn menu planning, purchasing, inventory, costing, and service.
Learning in Action
Chef-Led Instruction
Watch techniques in action before trying them yourself.
Commercial Kitchen Training
Practice in the school’s fully equipped kitchen.
Daily Meal Preparation
Prepare daily menus for students and staff across campus.
Instructor Feedback
Build your skills with support from experienced chefs.
Get Program Details
Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds
Program Schedule
Your Training Timeline
Your training blends culinary instruction with extensive practice in the school’s commercial kitchen.
TOTAL DURATION
12 MONTHS
FULL-TIME SCHEDULE
Monday–Thursday
9:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Plan your life around a consistent daytime schedule, with select Friday sessions included when needed.
KITCHEN TRAINING
More Than 50%
Hands-On
Prepare real meals, practice new techniques, and receive feedback from chef instructors.
Real Life experience
Cook for Real. Learn by Doing.
Instead of completing a separate externship, Culinary Arts students gain workplace-style experience right in Bidwell’s kitchen.
You’ll prepare lunches from daily menus and rotate through stations focused on soup, salads, vegetables, starches, entrées, pastry, and kitchen sanitation. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your technique, manage your time, and learn how a real kitchen operates.
As an added benefit, you’ll enjoy a free meal each day from the food prepared in class.
You’ll prepare lunches from daily menus and rotate through stations focused on soup, salads, vegetables, starches, entrées, pastry, and kitchen sanitation. Along the way, you’ll sharpen your technique, manage your time, and learn how a real kitchen operates.
As an added benefit, you’ll enjoy a free meal each day from the food prepared in class.
No-Cost Tuition
$0
tuition, fees & supplies
100%
of programs offered at no cost
0
loans or payment plans
What's covered
Eligible Pennsylvania residents with a high school diploma or GED train at no cost—thanks to funding from the State of Pennsylvania, private foundations, and individual donors. Accepted students automatically receive a one-time institutional grant, no separate application needed.
✓ Tuition
✓ Fees
✓ Uniforms
✓ Supplies
✓ Textbooks
✓ Knife sets (culinary)
Ready to see if you qualify?
✓
Pennsylvania resident
✓
HS diploma or GED
Learn from Working Professionals
Every instructor in this program brings hands-on industry experience into the classroom, backed by real credentials.
RB
Renee Benigni
Culinary Arts Program Instructor
BPS
Culinary Science, Culinary Institute of America
KB
Keith Butler
Culinary Arts Program Instructor
AA
Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts
AA
Culinary Arts, Community College of Allegheny County
AT
Anthony Taglieri
Senior Director, Culinary Arts & Enterprise Program
Cert
Certified Sous Chef, American Culinary Federation
Cert
Culinary Arts Apprentice Graduate, Westmoreland Community College
EM
Eugene Mankowski
Culinary Arts Program Coordinator & Front of House Supervisor and Culinary Arts Program Instructor
AS
Community College of Allegheny County
TM
Tim McLaughlin
Culinary Arts Program Instructor
Cert
Culinary Management, Art Institute of Pittsburgh
PN
Paul Neff
Culinary Arts Kitchen Chef/Inventory Control & Culinary Arts Program Instructor
BS
Business Management, Penn State University
AS
Culinary Arts, Pennsylvania Culinary Institute
MH
Michael Hinzman
Employment Coordinator, Culinary Arts Professional Development Instructor
BA
Communications and Political Science, Allegheny College
Prepare for In-Demand Culinary Careers
Employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 7% from 2024 to 2034, with approximately 24,400 openings projected nationwide each year.**
Is a career in Culinary Arts is right for you? Take our Career Training Readiness Survey. It's free, quick and reveals your strengths and social style, plus the training and positions you're best suited for.
Positions you may pursue include:
Restaurants · Hotels · Resorts
Line Cook
Prepare menu items at a dedicated kitchen station.
Restaurants · Catering
Prep Cook
Prepare ingredients and support smooth kitchen service.
Bakeries · Hotels · Stores
Baker
Produce breads, pastries, cakes, and other baked goods.
Restaurants · Hotels
Kitchen Manager
Oversee kitchen staff, food prep, inventory, safety, and operations.
Bakeries · Specialty Shops
Cake Decorator
Decorate and finish cakes for display and service.
Get Program Details
Request your free program guide and get everything you need to take the first step.
Career Prospects
Next Start Dates
Tuition Costs
Funding Options
Free · No obligation · Takes 30 seconds
Our Employer Partners
Bidwell Training Center partners with leading culinary organizations across the region to connect graduates with real job opportunities. Some of our employer partners include:
Giant Eagle
Primanti Bros.
Kennywood Amusement Park
Prepare for the ServSafe Manager Exam
Food safety is a cornerstone of every professional kitchen, and passing this exam is a graduation requirement for all students in our Culinary Arts program. In your Food Safety and Sanitation course, you'll learn to identify risks, protect customers and staff, and maintain a safe, well-run operation.
Food safety program
ServSafe Manager
The official food safety credential proving a manager has what it takes to keep food safe.
Courses
Build your skills step by step through practical chef training in Pennsylvania, from kitchen fundamentals and food safety to advanced cooking, baking, and restaurant management.
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01CA 100 Introduction to the Professional Kitchen12 hours
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02CA 101 Cooking Principles99 hours
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03CA 102 Introduction to Baking66 hours
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04CA 103 Food Safety and Sanitation66 hours
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05CA 104 Culinary Equipment17 hours
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06PD 101 Professional Development 1: Career Exploration28 hours
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07CA 105 Hot and Cold Foods I: Basic Cooking Techniques72 hours
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08CA 125 Hot and Cold Foods II: Advanced Cooking Techniques72 hours
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09CA 106 Culinary Fundamentals I: Plants and Dairy108 hours
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10CA 107 Culinary Supervision18 hours
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11PD 102 Professional Development II: Resume Building/Professional Documents18 hours
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12CA 108 Dining Room Operations18 hours
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13CA 126 Culinary Fundamentals II: Protein108 hours
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14CA 135 Hot and Cold Foods III: Traditional American Gastronomy72 hours
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15CA 145 Hot and Cold Foods IV: International Cuisine72 hours
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16PD 103 Professional Development III: Interview Skills18 hours
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17CA 109 Restaurant Management30 hours
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18CA 111 Ordering and Receiving24 hours
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19CA 113 Chef Practicum39 hours
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20CA 122 Advanced Baking60 hours
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21CA 155 Hot and Cold Foods V: Food Manipulation48 hours
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22PD 104 Professional Development IV: Job Search Strategies15 hours
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23CA 120 Exiting the Professional Kitchen48 hours
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13CA 126 Culinary Fundamentals II: Protein108 hours
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14CA 135 Hot and Cold Foods III: Traditional American Gastronomy72 hours
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15CA 145 Hot and Cold Foods IV: International Cuisine72 hours
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16PD 103 Professional Development III: Interview Skills18 hours
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17CA 109 Restaurant Management30 hours
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18CA 111 Ordering and Receiving24 hours
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19CA 113 Chef Practicum39 hours
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20CA 122 Advanced Baking60 hours
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21CA 155 Hot and Cold Foods V: Food Manipulation48 hours
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22PD 104 Professional Development IV: Job Search Strategies15 hours
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23CA 120 Exiting the Professional Kitchen48 hours
What Our Graduates Say
Bidwell Training Center teaches everything you need to know in the field and inspires people to find the drive in themselves to be successful.
MB
Marcus Bland, Culinary Arts graduate
Bidwell was very welcoming to everyone, so it's definitely a place where if you're looking to further your career, look for your experience in whatever sort of fields, Bidwell is the place to go."
JL
Jacob Landau, Culinary Arts graduate
75%
Ready?
Is a Career in Culinary Arts Right for You?
Take Our Career Training Readiness Assessment
This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style, plus the career paths you’re a fit for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The program covers culinary fundamentals such as knife skills, cooking techniques, and food preparation, along with kitchen management, food safety, and nutrition, preparing students for roles ranging from restaurant kitchens to catering services.
Explore the Culinary Arts CoursesBidwell's Culinary Arts program is designed to be completed in 1 year, allowing students to transition into the workforce with the skills needed to succeed in the culinary industry.
Get Program Details NowYes. Students train in a fully-equipped commercial kitchen with a 10:1 teacher-to-student ratio, preparing meals from a menu that changes daily and gaining real, hands-on experience with the duties of professional culinary roles.
Learn About Career ServicesNo prior experience is required. The program is designed to take students from beginner to professional level, with lessons that build skills progressively regardless of starting point.
Take the Career Training Readiness SurveyGraduates can pursue roles such as chef, sous chef, line cook, pastry chef, or catering manager, with employment opportunities in restaurants, hotels, catering businesses, resorts, and more.
Explore Career OpportunitiesIs a Rewarding Career in Culinary Arts Right For You?
If you’re interested in learning more about Culinary Arts careers and exploring whether Bidwell Training Center is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information. Our friendly and knowledgeable Admissions team is here to answer your questions and guide you through everything from enrollment to courses.
For immediate questions, call 412-402-9761
*For accepted Pennsylvania resident students, tuition, fees, uniforms, supplies, and textbooks are fully covered through state funding.
**https://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/chefs-and-head-cooks.htm