The Portland Culinary Institute

Where Food, Culture, and Change Converge
A Professional Certificate in Culinary Arts, Wellness & Food Systems

Based in Portland, Oregon—one of the most innovative food cities in the U.S.—the Portland Culinary Institute offers a 12-month immersive certificate program that blends culinary craft with purpose-driven education.

This isn’t culinary school as usual. We combine technique, sustainability, business acumen, and cultural literacy to prepare students not just to cook, but to lead.

What We Teach

Our curriculum is designed to empower the next generation of chefs, entrepreneurs, and educators through hands-on courses like:

  • Culinary Foundations I: Knife Skills, Stocks, and Sauces

  • Global Foodways & Cultural Identity

  • The Business of Sustainable Food Ventures

  • Nutrition & Wellness in the Modern Kitchen

  • Food Systems & Social Justice

  • Farm-to-Table Practicum: Local Sourcing in Action

  • Capstone: Food, Culture & Change in Action

Students move through a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds core competencies while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

Who This Is For

This program is ideal for:

  • Aspiring chefs seeking a more meaningful path

  • Food entrepreneurs and small business owners

  • Community leaders, educators, and wellness advocates

  • Career changers looking to align values with vocation

Graduates go on to launch food ventures, run nonprofit initiatives, work in wellness and health settings, lead education programs, and more.

Built on Relationships

We partner with local farms, restaurants, wellness centers, and social enterprises to provide real-world training opportunities. Internships, guest instruction, and project-based learning are central to our approach.

Why Portland, Why Now

Portland is a testbed for progressive food ideas—making it the perfect home for a culinary institute rooted in equity, sustainability, and innovation. With your knife in one hand and a systems map in the other, you’ll be equipped to navigate the future of food with skill and purpose.

Let’s Build the Future of Food, Together

Interested in joining the next cohort, forming a partnership, or supporting our mission?

📬 Contact: cgwilcox792@gmail.com
🌐 More info: www.chefgrahamallardwilcox.com