The Napa region in Northern California has long been a culinary delight for those people who love to supplement their food with great wine. Unfortunately, the weather in this world is changing and people fear that global warming is going to make Napa too hot for it to continue to be this kind of hot spot. People are trying to predict where the new Napa will be if this does occur and the name that keeps coming up is Portland.

Portland already has a great reputation for good restaurants and it’s rapidly developing recognition for the wineries that have cropped up in recent years. It is now common for students attending a Portland culinary arts program to be educated in the local wine as a part of their standard course work. This seems to indicate that people who think Portland will be the new Napa may be right.

There are many similarities between Napa and Portland. They’re both located on the water. They both have a strong seafood and local food scene. And they both have some affiliation with local wines. The difference is that the climate in Portland is a little bit wetter and cooler which means it could survive through global warming for a bit longer than Napa might.

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You’re heading off to culinary school at Kitchen Academy Sacramento. You’re not planning to relocate to the area permanently but you need to take enough stuff with you to last through the course of the degree program. At times as exciting as these, it can be hard to remember what needs to go with you and what can stay home.

Here are some of the items that you should remember to pack when heading off to culinary school:

• Anything the school has told you it requires. For example, you may need to have black checkered chef pants and a specific color of apron. Get those things in your hometown since you know where to shop there and take them with you.
• Basic necessities of life. You need to have your driver’s license, credit cards and checkbook when you temporarily relocate. Many people forget the obvious things because they’re trying to remember everything. Don’t be one of those people.
• Weather-appropriate clothing and accessories. You’re going to need a different kind of jacket in Sacramento as you would if you attended one of the Portland culinary programs. Think about that when packing. Remember sunscreens, umbrellas and other accessories as well.
• Comfort items. Don’t forget to pack the things that will make your temporary apartment your home. Family photo albums, special souvenirs and your favorite sheets can go a long way towards making you more comfortable.

Going away to cooking school is like going to any other college. Take the things that you need and the things that are most important to you. The rest can be bought as the want arises.

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There are many reasons why getting a culinary arts degree is a good idea.  Here are three to get you started.

1. Make your living doing what you love.  If you really love to cook, I can’t think of anything better for you than to get a culinary arts degree.  Pretty much everyone dreams of being able to make their living doing something they love, but few people ever get to make that happen.  If you can, then good for you — go for it!
2. There are so many culinary cooking schools to choose from.  If you decide to get your degree in the culinary arts, then you have a lot of options at your fingertips.  There are many different culinary schools nationwide, so there is bound to be one that can meet your unique needs as a student and a future chef.
3. The proper culinary training makes a difference in your career.  There are many careers out there where you really don’t have to have an education to succeed.  The culinary industry is one of them — years of work experience can stand in for an education if you don’t have one.  However, this is also an industry where having an education can really help you get ahead and skip years of grunt work, so getting your culinary arts degree is still a good idea.

If you are pursuing a career in the culinary arts, or are considering attending a culinary school, I hope this post has demonstrated why getting your degree is a good idea.

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