Culinary arts degree preferred, but the requirement can be waived for 5+ years of experience as a pastry chef or seven-plus years as a line chef working under a pastry chef. Time management skills and knowledge of inventory are essential.

Ramsay, known for his hot temper and high cooking standards on shows such as "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares," didn't attend culinary school himself. He earned a degree in hotel management from North Oxon Technical College, then learned on the job in the kitchens at Harvey's and La Gavroche in London.

Born and raised in the west of France, Nina Métayer grew up with an itch to travel the world. After a school exchange programme led her to Mexico to stay with a French couple who owned a bakery, her destiny was set.

Founded in Paris in 1895, Le Cordon Bleu is considered today the largest network of culinary and hospitality schools in the world with more than 35 institutes in 20 countries and 20,000 students of over 100 nationalities are trained every year.