Gastronomicom Comments |
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| Date Submitted: | March 8, 2010 |
| Culinary School: | Gastronomicom |
| Location: | Vias, France |
| Classes & Instruction: | 8 out of 10 |
| School Facilities: | 4 out of 10 |
| Accomodation: | 2 out of 10 |
| Cost: | 3 out of 10 |
| Recommend: | No |
| Review: | Not As Advertised ! I was very excited to go to this school but left feeling slightly bitter about some of the experience. I was enrolled in the pastry course. I found the chef to be very well trained and easy to get along with, however, because it was only a 3 month course and many of us were doing the Stage (internship after) everything was rushed. We were supposed to have both the pastry and the french classes taught to us in english. However, upon arrival, we learned that only the first 2 months would be english and the third month everything would be in french. Then about a month into the schooling we learned that we weren't doing well enough on learning the french so they were going to switch over to only teaching in french.. AFTER ONLY A MONTH! I was very upset with this it was very confusing. Not to mention we had two different french teachers and there seemed to be very little communication between them and the school. Also, there was no consistency with how they taught. Somedays they would teach us verbs, others adjectives for clothing and food, some days it was sentences, and others it was dealing with things we didnt need to know. Very rarely would they cover terms we needed in the kitchen or with cooking in general. They said alot of it was up to us, which COMPLETELY CONTRADICTED what were told before coming to the school. It is very hard to get to the level they want to to be at and need to be at for the stage in only 3 months. Also the internet there was rarely working on the weekends, which made it hard to keep in contact with friends and family and to study online. Now about the stage. We were told that we would have a say in where we would be going and that our level of french would be a factor. UNTRUE. They didn't bother to look at our level of french or ask us where we would like to go. AND they do not help you get there. You are on your own, though they may help to contact the place, you have to figure out how to get there, and if they send you to a small town like where i went, you have to walk with luggage at night, searching for the restaurant. We were told that we would be so busy in the stage we would barely be able to keep up UNTRUE. Since i was place for the winter stage around christmas in the south of france i stood around for 4-5 hrs with NOTHING TO DO and spent the other 5 hrs WASHING DISHES!! They were simply not busy enough to have us do anything. Something else you should know since they offer only week and month courses along with the full three month course, be prepared for over crowding. At one point there was over 18 people in cuisine trying to cook in a kitchen that would maybe fit 8-10 people comfortably. And It messes up partners ( since you always work with one) if your partner comes in for only a week or a month. Also, if you decide to only take a month course and join when the full programs are already a month or two in, you will struggle to keep up because they will be speaking in french and when you are in french class they will not start over for you. We had 2 people join our french class the last month of schooling (they were only taking a month course) and they were struggling to keep up. Not to mention the school lied and said that they would have there own french class.. Be prepared for the school not disclosing all the hidden fees and appointments you have to MISS culinary or pastry for. The chefs are great but the administration running the school are COMPLETELY DISORGANIZED. Basically the school is good for meeting people from all over the world and for traveling around and see france and adjacent countries. The Chefs ARE AMAZING and sorry to say deserve to be at a place where the teaching doesn't have to be rushed and were the organization at the school matches there abilities. And though they are amazing chefs its hard to learn in short 3 hrs periods daily. They would be better off stretching the program to 6 months so it's not rushed. Plan on spending around 13,000 US Dollars after all the airfare, train fare, hidden fees, travel to the appointments, and paying for living expenses (this amount does not include traveling for fun) Also know that the school is located in a Resort so in the summer months prepare for lots of people being there. In the winter there isn't as many guests there. Another note, the housing you will be in is set up for people on vacation the fridge is very very small for four people and the room size is not equal one room is very comfortable and the other is very very small for two people. AND KNOW that laundry is expensive there! We paid over 10 Euros for one wash and dry and the washer is about a 1/4 the size of a US washer. So we would end up paying 6 euros for each load of laundry and usually have to do 2 loads per week then pay 4 Euros for dryer ( normal size) Oh and they dont help you figure out the bus system. There is a larger Grocery store in Agde , called Hyper-U. Take bus 273, you will be on the bus for around 30 mins and will see the big store. Someone will most likely hit the button but if not there is a small red button on a rail above your seats. Take the same bus to get back to the school .. If you ride this bus to the end you will arrive at the Gare ( train station) |
| Submitted by: | Just being Honest 24 year-old :: Female Reviewer :: USA |
5 comments for this review
| Comment by: Supporter of Just being Honest From: France March 9th, 2010 |
I agree with everything stated above! I hope this makes people more aware of what they are getting themselves into! The internships are different case by case, but in general, you are being sent to restaurants for cheap labor! The school lead us to believe that we would be learning during our internship and most of the time we are standing around, washing dishes or in my situation, helping the disorganized chefs who run the restaurant how to be organized. |
| Comment by: Voice from another student From: France March 9th, 2010 |
I second these reviews on all and more! As mentioned, it was chaotic already for students doing the 3 months course to follow classes in French,so it was worst for students coming in during our last month of training hoping to learn basic French! It was impossible and anyone organizing and conducting the course will know and should be honest about it right from the beginning. But of course, this was hidden information until students paid and arrived. And for the stage, it was told to each and everyone of us that we will have a discussion with the school prior to posting and we will have around 3 to 4 choices. But the truth is, we were just told to go where they told us without a chance to 'discuss'. And the school made it sounded like they were doing us a huge favor to find a placement for us which in actual fact, we already paid them for the service in the school fee. And do not expect the school to be sympathetic if you do not understand French. They will tell you straight to your face 'expect to be kicked out in 2 weeks from your stage with your level of French'. The kitchen that we attended our cooking lessons is sad to say, very poorly equipped and way too small for the whole class (stretching to as much as 18 students) with only 4 cooking stoves and one oven. At one point, student were told to skip cooking class because of bad organization on the school part (class was too packed). The only good out of this school are the chefs and the French teacher. But if you are also like us, travelling almost half the globe over to study, it is not worth the money. |
| Comment by: devina From: india April 8th, 2010 |
i was planning on taking admission here..but after reading the reviews i doubt it...whether i would be going here.. |
| Comment by: lessault Martine From: France April 9th, 2010 |
I totally desagree with what was said in the above comments about Gastronomicom, because first , yes the teachers are excellents and try to give the best to the students, don't forget that most of the students come there for professional goals. The french teachers are also excellents and have to manage a lot of diferent level of French which is not easy but the same in any other school!! The cooking class is for 15 people but most of the time students are around 10 together (never 18!! it is not true!) and the pastry class nearby is also an extension in case of necessity so it is not true that the kitchen is not corectly equiped!!! All the lessons are conducted in English and effectively the last month in the kitchen the teacher speak more french to the students to prepare them for the internship because it is very important for the student to be able to communicate in French during the internship to have benefit there!! It is totally untrue that it is said to the students that they will have the choice between 3 or 4 places for the internship because it is impossible and also the affectation is done depending of the level of the student!! there are few school who provide internship with food, accomodation and 400 Euros per month!! please check on internet what you find about this!!! The famous Cordon Bleu don't provide internship!! naturally it is more easy!!! but they are much more expensive than Gastronomicom!!! Compare also the price of Gastronomicom, accomodation included with many other schools in the world!! Nothing is perfect in any school but I think that the relation qualityu price of the school is excellent, that the teaching is excellent and the 4 stars apartments where the students are accomodated much better than many other places that I have seen for lodging students!! in suplement there is a heated swimmingpool at the disposal of the students for free!! TV in the rooms and internet for free in the school building ( do you no a place where the internet has never had some bugs??) Finally what i can see on this comment is that the note given for classes and instruction is 8/10 and for me this is an excellent note!!!!! to be very honest I think that it is the first thing that a student should search when coming in a school!!! and the possibility to meet many diferent nationalities and cultures is also another very positive point!!! this will be my conclusion to be very honest!!!!!!! |
| Comment by: astghik From: armenia July 27th, 2010 |
I'm interested in taking one of the cookery courses at Gastronomicom. Could you share your experience about the curriculum/methodology, language of instruction, internship, legal aspects/do you sign a contract indicating any terms/conditions for the payment, study, and any other relevant information? Thanks |
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