Academy of Culinary Education in Woodland Hills

Chef Cecilia is a master. If you are interested in entering the world of culinary, she will be your masterful guide. She will take you as far as you want to go, she will also help you discover and fulfill your culinary dreams. Chef Cecilia will become a lifelong mentor, friend and a great listener. What you will learn at Academy of Culinary Education (ACE)is immeasurable. The experiences you will have while attending ACE, (Like working at the Academy Awards), whether you choose to continue a career in the culinary world or just become an awesome home cook, are once in a life time. I HIGHLY recommend attending ACE and learning from Chef Cecilia!

My relationship with this incredible school is so rich and deep, that deciding where to start this review, is definitely the hardest part.I found ACE after an extensive search, and hearing from staff and graduates easily convinced me to sign up for the Professional cooking program in June of 2016. From the first class, Chef Cecilia set us at ease with the pace and tone tailored to our classs needs. The class size maxes out at 10-12, so it is very hands on and accommodates plenty of one-on-one opportunity. Week after week, my classmates and I would look forward to entering the small school and immersing ourselves into the topic at hand. From the basics to quite advanced subjects, the 30 week program flies by, leaving you wishing it was at least double the length. From eggs, pastas and pizzas, risottos and fried rice, and sauces and stocks, to butchery, fish, ethnic foods, pate and sausages, game and even some pastry and baking, we covered everything we needed to make it in the professional cooking world. Which brings me to the next part of my review;As well as learning the fundamentals of cooking, Chef Cecilia brings with her over four decades of experience in the best of the restaurant industry. Her knowledge of kitchen etiquette is unparalleled, having worked in the top LA restaurants, from michelin starred kitchens, to the at-the-time cutting edge of asian-french fusion, and quite literally everything in between. This allows her to teach us not just how to cook, but how to carry ourselves professionally and attractively to the industrys top chefs. Her connections throughout the industry, be it former graduates, or the decades she spent working alongside one of the biggest chefs of our time, leads to incredible placement opportunities for her graduates. From Spago to Melisse to Broken Spanish, from Patina to Otium to Chinois, from Republique to Cut to Wolfgang Puck Catering, she has had graduates representing ACE in every position from prep cook to executive Chef.Chef Cecilia demands the best from her students, and really cares about us on an individual level. She watches every student and quickly learns their skills and their areas for improvement. Through individual coaching and attention, she really brings out the best in us. By the time graduation rolls around, (in itself an incredible learning experience, but thats for graduates to know;) ), her students stand shoulder to shoulder, and in many cases a head above, graduates from any other culinary school.When I started at ACE, I had never stepped foot in a professional kitchen. Since graduating, I have worked in some of LAs best kitchens, including cooking multi-course feasts for foreign dignitaries and Hollywoods whos-who at Chinois on Main, or catering the Governors ball for the 2019 Oscars alongside some of the worlds greatest chefs at Wolfgang Puck Catering. I currently work at one of LAs trendiest and most popular plant based restaurants. And every career move I have made, every opportunity afforded to me, I can trace directly back to the day I walked through the unassuming door on Ventura Blvd and fell in love with a tiny, magnificent cooking school called ACE.I am beyond grateful to be part of the ACE family, (my partner is now enrolled in the same course I took), and take every opportunity to recommend it to friends, acquaintances, strangers, anyone. If you are on the hunt for a cooking school, whether you want to get into the industry, want to move up to the next level after hitting a ceiling in your professional life, or simply would like to improve your home cooking chops, ACE is 100% the right school for you. Their staff are incredibly helpful, so if you have any questions, would like to visit the school, or want to attend an upcoming open house, which I know happens every few months, just reach out to them on their website, or social media.I really cannot recommend them enough, and I hope youll join the ACE Family along with me soon!

I attended both the Professional Cooking program and the Pastry and Baking program with Chef Cecilia DeCastro at The Academy of Culinary Education.Taking her classes changed my life! I always loved to cook, but wasnt sure what i wanted to do with that passion and Chef Cecilia really helped me focus in on what was best for me, and that was catering. Shes amazing at looking at someones skills and helping steer them to the best use of their abilities and passion. I learned so much from her classes, learned how to make amazing food, and made life long friends with the fellow students. My catering business wouldnt be where it is today without this school! Its the perfect programs for those looking to transition to a new mid life career, as well as those just out of High School.Ive also been lucky enough to help Chef Cecilia out on numerous catering jobs. Shes always extremely professional(shes been catering for more than 30 years) her food is beautifully presented and delicious. And in addition to new clients, she has a very loyal following of repeat clientele who have used her catering services for years and years.

When I was looking for culinary schools I sighed and said, “I wish I was so rich I could pay a chef to teach me one on one.” A few days later I found ACE! It is not too far from one on one. There were only 7 students in my professional baking class. Chef Cecilia teaches and does the demos. Additionally, there are TA’s who prep for the classes and help the class. Chef knows everything about anything. She has worked with Wolfgang Puck! She is very supportive and helps her students find jobs before graduating. Just make sure you have a good attitude and are easy to work with. She knows all her students goals and dreams. I think attending big schools are a big waste of money. This is more intimate and more hands on. We learned how to bake just about everything. I suggest you attend the schools open house and see for yourselves.P.SShe makes the most delicious food! Everyone, every time went back for seconds! I highly recommend ACE for the professional baking and professional cooking! The kitchen is spacious everything is in amazing condition,neat, and clean.

Amazing Chef! Will beat Le Cordon Bleu or any other culinary program any day. 96% job placement rate

Congratulations graduates!