CHEF

A chef career goes beyond just cooking. It requires maintaining the overall quality of food served. However, there are numerous types of chefs, who specialize in everything from sauces to chocolates. In larger establishments, chefs even manage other chefs. This article takes a look at some of the jobs in the culinary world and how to go about securing them.

To be a chef you will have to complete the culinary arts program from an accredited cooking school. Graduates from accredited cooking schools, quite naturally, have an advantage over non-graduates. Experienced chefs lay more emphasis on working ones way up from the bottom. Learning from superiors will definitely help strengthen your culinary skills.

To achieve the level of skill required of an executive chef or cook in a fine restaurant calls for many years of training and experience. Chefs and cooks also may be trained in apprenticeship programs offered by professional culinary institutes, industry associations, and trade unions. It is only after you have reached the peak of your chef career that you can think of owning a restaurant. That would be a great achievement for you.

Career path of a chef in ascending order:

1. Commis/prep chef: This is an entry level position. In this type of job you might not cook for months but instead you will peel the potatoes or cut the tomatoes. After you have perfected and shown your upward graph then you might get promoted.

2. Demi chef: A demi chef is a part of the kitchen brigade who specializes in cooking specific type of food.

3. Chef de partie: A chef de partie specializes as breakfast cook, side-dish cook, sauce cook, roast cook, pastry cook, butcher cook, fish cook, larder cook or relief cook.

4. Junior Sous Chef: Junior Sous Chef is an assistant to Sous Chef.

5. Sous Chef: A sous chef aids the executive chef in monitoring food-making for all events and locations.

6. Executive sous chef: Generally in a kitchen there are many sous chefs working. Executive sous chef is in-charge of all the other sous chefs working in a kitchen.

7. Executive Chef: Executive chef is also known as head chef or chef or first chef.

Two more chef titles are :

1. Pastry chef: is in-charge of preparing pastries, breads and various baking goods. This type of chef is mostly appointed in 5 star hotels, bakeries, restaurants. The perquisite for becoming a pastry chef is the completion of the pastry & bakery arts program other than culinary arts.

2. Private chef: is appointed by the rich and famous people to work in their homes, yachts or private jet.