House Maids

After some deliberation, Alexander ultimately decided to drop the culinary school idea, understanding he did not have the required instructors or even the culture.

Parents just did not want to send their boys to such places, preferring far more prestigious institutions, while girls and female cooks were heavily discriminated against, never being allowed any significant position in a professional kitchen.

Which was certainly odd given cooking was thought to be largely a woman's job. 

But Alexander guessed it probably had to do with the fact that the position of a head chef of a noble was a prestigious rank, one with significant power and authority- after all, they literally controlled what the lord ate for the day.

They also had many subordinates under them and so most nobles probably did not think women were capable of leading such a large group of men.