New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute

New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that educates a diverse community of learners to sustain an ever-evolving hospitality industry. We offer a platform for professional and personal growth, increasing access and minimizing barriers to career pathways while supporting the promotion and economic development of the culinary arts and hospitality industry.

The leisure and hospitality sectors are two of the top three employers in New Orleans and across the State, providing jobs and careers, driving tourism, and serving as a critical aspect to our region's economic stability and growth. Recognizing the sector's vital role, NOCHI offers innovative educational pathways that break traditional barriers to career advancement. Through carefully designed programs, we address the complex challenges faced by aspiring culinary and hospitality professionals. Our six-month certificate programs in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts provide intensive, practical training, transforming passionate individuals into skilled professionals. The Hospitality Investment Training bridges gaps for employers, while Learning Skills for Life bar training empowers marginalized populations, offering not just industry skills but crucial life development tools. By making education accessible and affordable, NOCHI is creating pathways to economic mobility, supporting both individual dreams and the region's hospitality ecosystem. Each certificate earned represents more than training; it's a gateway to opportunity in a city renowned for its rich culinary heritage.

Testimonials

"NOCHI has given me the solid culinary foundation and real-world skills I needed to launch my career as a personal and private chef. The education I received there is the main reason I'm able to be as successful as I am today." - Erik Nunley, Culinary Arts

"Having a well trained workforce in place, that employers have access to is something we've always wanted and needed here. NOCHI is geared up to be that pipeline. It is important to me and I am proud to be a part of it." - Susan Spicer