ESCF Ferrandi Career Program in French Cuisine Sept 2012 - Page 2

Hello Addiiee, thank you for replying to my thread. After reading your reply i feel much more confident in applying for Ferrandi. I wish you all the best and hope you have a great time at Ferrandi ^^.

Hi everyone! I'm from Singapore and has been accepted into the Sept Pastry Program.  It's a relief to find this forum as I have not been to Paris before, and neither do I speak French! This is going to be such a big challenge! Thanks Addiiee for setting up the FB page for us to get in touch.  Appreciate it lots!
 

There is a downloadable list on the le cordon Bleu website. I am applying for the 2013 program now and trying to get a good feeler as to how much money I really need.

http://www.cordonbleu.edu/paris/life-in-paris/en check it out I have been finding cheap studios on these websites.

 

Good Luck!!!

Hi everyone! A bit late but I just got accepted for the september pastry program (I applied très très late). nice to see that someone set up a forum for new students (I'm going to go have a look at the fb group page too). Anyway I'm from Geneva Switzerland. See you all in Paris. 

how was the phone/email interview??

hello every one, i really think you should not invest so much in this programme. I can tell you because I'm in the program right now. First of all, the chef walks out from the classroom after the demonstration. It is supposed to be 75% hands on program. Yes, we have to be working by ourselves without the chef. The chef is not interested in teaching the spirit of the French pastry making. He is not demanding at all thus the entire class is so relaxed and is rather in the chatter room. The anglophone pastry program is very disorganized.  I also want to tell you that the chefs, the so-called very unprofessional international program manager and the director of the international program didn't know anything about our background. I had thought we had been selected very carefully, but nobody knows us! This program cost you 18000 euro. It's not worth it. the school size used to be 10, now 12  and would be increased to more. the french course offered here is really a nightmare for me and my fellow classmates. i had to go to other french school to improve my french. my comment here is subjective and you'd better think it more clearly about this programme. under the difficult situation on Euro, the school is only trying to make profits. do you guys how many they earn per year? the income does not go to upgrading facilities and course and even the personnel involved with the programe. what a shame!

Hmm what were you expectations going into this programme. The whole point is to be taught how to stand on your own. In real life situations do you think chefs in the kitchens will be watching over you to make sure you get it right? Holding your hands every step of the way?

 

Grow up. ( sorry that was harsh) 

 

Its not a language school why would you be trying to learn French in a class taught in English.  Yes, schools have to make money to survive. A 12 person class sounds heavenly, imagine trying to learn with 20-30 other students around you?

 

What exactly is the spirit of french pastry making? If you know what it is why would you spend 18 000 euro to be taught it?? 

 

I'm sorry your having a rough time, but before spending 18 000 you probably should have done more research. 

Not to beat a dead horse but I totally agree...when I went to culinary school we have 28 students in class, and we were thankful. In professional kitchen the chef cannot hold anyone's hand and baby them...get used to it. I've been working in the industry for as long as some of you have been alive, I don't claim I know everything but I know what is expected from a cooks point of view because even with a degree in culinary or pastry you will start at the bottom remember you are not a chef once you have that shiny degree, it will take another 5-10 years of extremely hard work to get to the next level. I too am going to ESCFF this fall to learn baking and pastries, but I am doing it with a sense of reality, I agree it is somewhat romantic to learn how to bake in Paris, but soon it will be just that living in Paris trying to pay bills and support my family. when it comes down to it we make our experience what it is... sorry your having a shitty time, I would look inward first, but I could be wrong... either way I don't give a shit I'm moving to Paris with my wife and I am going to bust my ass for myself... see you there and good luck..

Hey everybody. I got accepted to the Feb 2013 program and was wondering if you guys could tell me some stuff about your experiences. Like finding an apartment? What costs didn't you include in your budget that arose and what the costs were? Stuff like that. Or maybe one you would be so kind as to give me your email address so I can nauseate you with 1000 questions that have been causing me to have little panic attacks whenever I think about it.