Have you ever thought of becoming a chef? A cooking task is no longer associated with the womenfolk nowadays. A chef profession is today considered a lucrative profession in the hotel industry. You may think that in order to become a chef, you need a qualification certificate from a top culinary arts school or hotel management institute. But that is not the case. To become a chef, it is not only the educational qualifications that are counted but also to what extent you have the passion for cooking and serving.
ChefsBefore you take the plunge of becoming a chef, ask yourselves a few questions
Do you have...
- a passion for food?
- a keen sense of taste and smell?
- a desire for perfection?
- an urge to experiment?
- an urge to innovate?
- an instinct for mixing flavours, spices etc?
- willingness to work long hours?
- efficient memory to remember complex exotic recipes?
- knowledge of all spices, flavors?
- determination?
- stamina to stay in the kitchen for long hours?
If your answer is yes, then go ahead.
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A well known chef of a reputed 5-star hotel in India once said
"A good personality, the ability to learn the tricks of the trade to perfection, confidence, cleanliness and, above all, a flair for food and the desire to experiment is a must". This should be the aptitude of a star chef.
Job Profile of a Chef
- Create and plan menus
- Prepare and cook food
- Arrange and garnish the food
- Supervise kitchen staff
- Maintain cleanliness
- Supervise cleaning and dishwashing
- Buy cooking equipment and food supplies
- Keep records of supplies
Being a chef is not about cooking a great meal or being innovative in the kitchen. A good chef also needs to be good manager. He or she should be able to efficiently manage goods, resources, equipment, and people.
Chef Job Hierarchy
- After completing the diploma or bachelor's course, you start as a trainee in the kitchen.
- After successful completion of training, a trainee is promoted to an officer grade.
- Then you become a Chef. It usually takes two years in the field, post-training, to become a chef.
- Sous Chef is the next level. It implies the position of kitchen in charge. It may take six to seven years to become a Sous Chef.
- A chef can reach the position of an executive chef in about 10-12 years. In this position he is responsible for all food and kitchen related decisions. This includes shopping, menu deciding and innovation of new specialties. This is one of the most highly paid professionals in the hotel.
Advantages of becoming a Chef
- Good Salary
- Creativity display
- Has its own share of glamour
Disadvantages of Becoming a Chef
- Long and late hours
- Lots of hard work and stamina
- Constantly challenged
- No place for mistakes
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