There's More to Pennsylvania than Philly Cheesesteak
By Sonja Albrecht
Pennsylvania holds a dubious distinction as the ‘snack food capital of the world.’ Fortunately there’s more to Pennsylvania cuisine than Hershey’s chocolate bars and Lay’s potato chips. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer world-class cuisine and state-of-the-art culinary arts schools.
Your Pennsylvania culinary arts school experience will introduce you to the state’s metropolitan culture. In addition to Philly cheesesteak, hoagies, and soft pretzels, you’ll discover a cosmopolitan culinary scene with a wide range of ethnic influences. Pennsylvania claims to have the most restaurants per capita of any state; whether or not that’s true, its culturally diverse cities offer plenty of culinary inspiration to supplement your formal chef education.
Pennsylvania’s culinary arts schools offer a hands-on chef education in contemporary facilities. Many schools invite local chefs to give special demonstrations; an opportunity to learn from the best and network with the state’s most influential culinary professionals.
When you’re not honing your cooking technique, head out to Pennsylvania’s countryside for a different sort of chef education. In Lancaster’s Amish country, you’ll find Dutch and German comfort food made from wholesome, hand-made ingredients. Scrapple is a regional specialty, a Pennsylvania Dutch original made from ground pork and cornmeal mush.
Attending culinary arts school in Pennsylvania offers non-culinary perks as well. American Style magazine rated Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Bucks County among the top ten art destinations. One of those arts is wine-making, and you’ll find rolling hills and picturesque vineyards throughout Bucks County.
A chef education in Pennsylvania promises to awaken your taste buds and your culinary sensibilities, as you enjoy the rich traditions that make this state unique.
Sources
“Philadelphia,” About.com
VisitPA.com