Have you ever dreamed of making pasta in Italy, cooking paella in Spain, rolling sushi in Japan, or whipping up a crème brûlée in France? If so, this article will fill you in on the best places for culinary internships around the world.
It’s been said that the key to one’s heart is through the stomach—and the same is true for countries. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a foreign destination is to learn about the local cuisine.
Doing a culinary internship abroad is also a great way to expand your skill set and gain a competitive edge for future jobs. Keep reading to find out why you should consider a culinary internship, where you should do your internship, and what internship programs are available!
Why do a culinary internship?
By doing an internship abroad, you’ll learn about another country and culture while enhancing your culinary abilities.
Here’s why a culinary internship will boost your career (and your cooking skills):
- Learn about another country’s cuisine: If you want to learn about a country’s culture, you don’t need to look any further than what they put on their dinner plate. Completing a culinary internship abroad will provide a culturally rich experience and teach you about a new regional cuisine.
- Gain hands-on experience in the kitchen: The best way to break into any field is to throw yourself into the fire, and this is especially true of the culinary world. Doing an internship in a kitchen or restaurant will give you hands-on experience and prepare you for a professional job in the culinary arts.
- Boost your resume: When applying for jobs in the culinary arts, it is important to find ways to stand out from other applicants. While many people will have gone to culinary school or have completed internships, your experience abroad will give you an advantage.
- Acquire new skills: Every country, city, or region will have its culinary specialty. Doing a culinary internship abroad will allow you to acquire skills you may not be able to learn at home.
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8 best places for culinary internships
1. Paris, France
It probably won’t come as a surprise that Paris is renowned for its culinary scene. By participating in a culinary internship in the City of Light, you will be walking in the shoes of countless iconic and celebrated chefs (think Julia Child, Marie-Antoine Carême, and Auguste Escoffier).
During your internship, you will receive training from experienced chefs in top-tier restaurants, learning the skills that make French food what it is. Not only will you obtain a first-class food education in the kitchen, but you will also have access to some of the best food in the world by living in France’s capital city.
- Recommended program: Intern in France with World Endeavors
2. Florence, Italy
Stock up on ingredients while you’re out exploring Florence and see what makes this city one of the best places for culinary internships.
There is a reason why Italy consistently ranks as the best food country in the world. An internship in Florence will unlock the secrets to Italian cuisine and leave you more prepared for a career at home. Between trips to the Duomo and the Arno River, you can peruse the marketplaces for fresh, local ingredients.
While Italy has plenty of culinary specialties, you may be lucky enough to learn to prepare food special to the region. Some traditional dishes include Florentine steak, truffle and mushroom tagliatelle, and Tuscan soup.
- Recommended program: Italian Cuisine Chef Training + Restaurant Internship
3. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Food is an essential part of Argentinian culture. Participating in an internship in Buenos Aires will put you in the heart of the country’s culinary scene. As such an international city, the country’s capital blends European influences with Argentinian tradition. This blend of cultures is no more apparent than in their delicious cuisine.
During your internship, you can expect to serve meat-heavy dishes, as they are essential to the Argentinian diet. Some dishes special to Buenos Aires include empanadas, roasted meat, stew, and rice with milk. And of course, don’t forget to try lots of Malbec wine!
- Recommended program: Culinary Arts Internships in Argentina
4. Madrid, Spain
When thinking of Spanish food, many images may come to mind—eating tapas on cobbled-stone streets, sipping sangria in the Spanish sun, or scraping a delicious paella right from the pan. Spain is the perfect place to do a culinary internship abroad, and Madrid is at the center of the famed Spanish cuisine.
The city has a whopping 46 local food markets, giving you access to all of the fresh ingredients that make Spanish food so remarkable. Madrid also has numerous first-rate restaurants, and you will receive an amazing education by working in any one of them.
- Recommended program: Internships in Madrid, Spain - Adelante Abroad
5. Tokyo, Japan
Japan is home to one of the healthiest diets in the world. With a cuisine full of fish, soy, and fresh seasonal ingredients, an internship in Tokyo will teach you how to make food both tasty and nourishing.
Working in a kitchen in Tokyo, you will get to experiment with unique ingredients and local methods, learning to make dishes such as tempura, soba noodles, sushi, and ramen. You will also be introduced to Japan’s interesting table customs, learning the dos and don’ts of eating and serving in a restaurant. An internship in Tokyo will expose you to new styles of cooking and eating rituals, making it one of the best places for culinary internships in the world.
- Recommended program: Internship Program in Japan by ICC Consultants
6. Oaxaca City, Mexico
Your time in Oaxaca will let you in on many flavors and cooking techniques.
Oaxaca City is Mexico’s culinary capital, lauded for both its high-class restaurants and its impressive street food. A culinary internship in Oaxaca will expose to you a number of traditional dishes, including mole, tlayudas, tamales, tacos, and pozole.
You can spend days in their local marketplaces, tasting Oaxacan specialties and trying fruits and vegetables you’ve probably never heard of before. The city’s exciting food culture and traditional cooking techniques make Oaxaca City one of the best places to do a culinary internship abroad, and you are bound to add an array of new flavors and skills to your repertoire.
- Recommended program: Intern in Oaxaca, Mexico - Adelante Abroad
7. Sacred Valley, Peru
Peru’s Sacred Valley stretches from Cusco to Machu Picchu. If you are lucky enough to secure an internship here, you will find a growing gastronomic scene taking hold throughout the region. A culinary internship in Peru is a unique opportunity to learn about the local practices and ingredients that date back to an ancient culture.
You can expect to use simple, staple ingredients to create tasty, exciting dishes, like corn, potatoes, grains, and legumes. While you’re sure to taste countless Peruvian specialties in the Sacred Valley, some of their main dishes include ceviche, meat skewers, chicken stew, potato casserole, and stuffed red peppers.
- Recommended program: Internship in the Sacred Valley, Peru!
8. Quebec City, Canada
Do you want the opportunity to learn about two cuisines at once? Quebec City is where French and Canadian delicacies meet. The city is gaining increasing attention for its impressive restaurant offerings, local produce, and international food scene.
A culinary internship in Canada's famous food city will teach you how to succeed in the kitchen and make you stand out to prospective employers. Some Quebecois specialties you must try during your culinary internship include poutine, pea soup, crepes, meat pie, baked beans, and cretons.
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Get your foot in the door of the culinary industry with an internship abroad!
No matter which destination you choose, your culinary internship will have you showing off your skills!
With the opportunity to uncover a new country’s cuisine, sample world-class restaurants, discover exciting markets, and learn an abundance of new skills, a culinary internship abroad is the perfect way to begin a career in the food industry. Interning in any one of these cities will equip you with the experience necessary to excel in the culinary arts!
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