Exhibit 5.1

                              GROVER T. WICKERSHAM
                           A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                                ATTORNEYS AT LAW
                         430 CAMBRIDGE AVENUE, SUITE 100
                           PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94306
GROVER T. WICKERSHAM        TELEPHONE: (415) 323-6400
DEBRA K. WEINER                FAX: (415) 323-1108



                                December 2, 1996



California Culinary Academy, Inc.
625 Polk Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Gentlemen:

     We refer to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") of California Culinary Academy, Inc., a California corporation (the
"Company"), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") covering the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act") of 506,665 shares of common stock, no par value, of the
Company (the "Shares") for resale by certain selling shareholders of the Company
(the "Selling Shareholders").

     We have examined the Registration Statement, the Articles of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Company and such records, certificates and other documents as
we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that:

          1.   The Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of California; and

          2.   The Shares issued to the Selling Stockholders or issuable upon
conversion of the outstanding convertible Preferred Stock or upon exercise of
outstanding warrants as described in the Registration Statement are duly
authorized and are (or will be, when issued in accordance with the terms of the
respective instruments) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the use of our name in the Registration Statement
under the caption "Legal Matters," as counsel who will pass upon the legality of
the Shares for the Company and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do



not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations promulgated thereunder.

     This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit in connection with the
subject transaction and is not to be otherwise used, circulated, quoted or
referred to without our prior written consent.

                                   Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ Grover T. Wickersham, P.C.

                                   Grover T. Wickersham, P.C.