Passionate about gastronomy? Do you dream of a career in the world of food? Here is ALMA - The International School of Italian Cuisine
ALMA is one of the most prestigious Italian cooking schools in our country and in the whole world. With only one condition: roll up your sleeves and be ready to study, a lot.
For this reason it is considered theUniversity of gastronomes and every year it “churns out” dozens of professionals in an increasingly growing sector.
The students attend a training course divided into a classroom phase and an internship phase in the kitchens of the most renowned restaurants and pastry shops in Italy. The last obstacle before obtaining the diploma is, then, the final exam. To judge them, a commission composed of great chefs, masters of Italian cuisine.
L'ALMA, wanted and founded in 2004 by the chef Gualtiero Marchesi is the result of the collaboration between Public institutions, la Province , Chamber of Commerce of Parma, and private institutions.
Located in Colorno, in the province of Parma, in what is considered the Italian "food valley", it is based in the magnificent palace of the Farnese family. An enchanting and regal place, absolutely magical to host future Italian chefs.
ALMA's training offer
ALMA guarantees in-depth training, divided between Cooking Techniques and Advanced Course, in different areas. There are, therefore, courses to become:
- chefs
- Confectioners
- Bakery chef (bakery experts)
- Room, bar and sommelier professionals
- Catering manager
The offer is wide, and those designed for foreigners, taught in English, must also be considered.
The goal is to spread the real Italian cuisine in the world, making use of a teaching staff formed by best cooks and pastry chefs and by the most accredited experts in the restaurant world.
The Requirements Required?
A diploma from a hospitality school is not necessarily required for basic courses.
A high school diploma from any institute or a 3rd year qualification from a vocational training center is enough.
And obviously a great desire to get involved.
The courses are mainly limited and full time, therefore we study and work from Monday to Friday eight hours a day. With theoretical and practical insights, exams and continuous checks.
ALMA: what are the costs?
The costs are different according to the type of course chosen.
In the following table we have inserted the title, the duration and the registration fee for simplicity.
| COURSE | DURATION | QUOTE |
| Cooking techniques | 2 months with 360 hours of lessons and exercises | €6.52 |
| Superior of Italian Cuisine | 10 months: 5 months in the classroom and 5 months of internship | €16.409 |
| Pastry techniques | 5 weeks | 3.843 |
| Pastry Superior | 7 months: 3 and a half months in the classroom and 3 and a half months of internship | €10.919 |
| Bakery chef / Modern Bakery | 4 months | ND |
| Superior of Sala, Bar & Sommeller | 7 months: 4 months in the classroom and 3 months of internship | €8.509,50 |
| Catering Manager | 8 months: 6 months in the classroom and 2 months of internship | €10.126 |
To these must then be added the costs for accommodation.
The so-called ALMA HOUSING is the residence system located near the school where students stay. The monthly cost is € 250 per person + € 185 for expenses and services offered (subject to changes).
And then what?
In the end, the results are seen.
The ALMA school boasts employment rates that dwarf even the most optimistic forecasts of the government's Youth Guarantee program. Here 80% of graduates find work in three months and the percentage rises to 90% if we consider a period of 6 months.
Students leaving this school soon find themselves working in the most important kitchens in Italy and the world. They certainly play a fundamental role in contributing to success international partnerships with the largest training centers. The exchange situation created allows students to acquire a broader vision of the world, but also and above all to make themselves known beyond the borders.
New York, Toronto, Seoul, Montreal, Istanbul, Mexico City are just some of the locations of the cooking schools abroad included in the quality network.
Therefore, truly impressive results in the face of a high investment and huge economic sacrifices for families.
Good luck guys!
