| So you are interested in the possibility of | | | | success of your career. You may never see or |
| becoming a chef? You probably have many | | | | prepare these dishes again, but the techniques |
| questions and are probably wondering what route | | | | that you pick up in Culinary School can be applied |
| to take. Are there any requirements for | | | | to many of the dishes that you create in the |
| becoming a chef? What education is needed for | | | | future. |
| becoming a chef? | | | | Depending on the school you attend, your |
| As the title of this article suggests, you basically | | | | curriculum may include topics like pastry, nutrition, |
| have two options toward becoming a chef and | | | | management, butchery and more. You can also |
| learning the fundamentals of cooking. There are | | | | receive job placement assistance. You will learn |
| actually three options, but we will discuss the third | | | | more about the various culinary organizations out |
| later in this article. You can either go straight to | | | | there, scholarships and other programs that may |
| Culinary School and learn the art of cooking under | | | | be useful. |
| the close supervision of educated Chefs, or you | | | | The Disadvantages of Cooking School |
| can head out into the real world and learn hands | | | | For the most part, a Culinary school education is |
| on cooking techniques in a fast paced restaurant | | | | theoretical learning. Cooking school is not going to |
| setting. We will now discuss the advantages and | | | | prepare you for the busy and stressful |
| disadvantages of both options. | | | | environment of a real world kitchen, and this lack |
| ON THE JOB LEARNING | | | | of preparation may present a problem when you |
| The Advantages | | | | start looking for a job. |
| The traditional method for becoming a chef was | | | | Culinary Students have also acquired a bad |
| quite different years ago. One did not attend a | | | | reputation over the years unfortunately. The |
| Culinary School first before they began working. | | | | popular opinion is that graduates from cooking |
| Instead, a person learned by working from the | | | | schools are in no way prepared to handle the |
| bottom up. This gave the cook hands-on real | | | | stress of a busy kitchen. Why have Culinary |
| world experience, something not readily available | | | | Students been given such a bad reputation? It is |
| in cooking schools today. This real world | | | | because many have tried and quit when the going |
| experience is more respected then a student | | | | got rough. So the only way to overcome this is |
| fresh out of Culinary School, and I am sure you | | | | to prove yourself. You will have to dedicate |
| can understand why. A restaurant owner is not | | | | yourself no matter how hard things get. |
| going to be impressed by a resume filled with all | | | | Lastly there is the cost associated with a Culinary |
| of the classes you took in cooking school. He or | | | | School Education. It can be very expensive. Not |
| she will be more interested in whether or not you | | | | only do you have to pay tuition, but you also |
| can perform in a busy and stressful kitchen | | | | have to pay for your books, tools and other |
| environment, and you will only gain that | | | | accessories. Things can really add up. If you |
| experience by living and doing it on the job. | | | | decide that it is not the right career path for you, |
| The Disadvantages | | | | you will have lost a lot of money. |
| Working on the job also has its disadvantages. In | | | | GOING TO SCHOOL + ON THE JOB TRAINING |
| a restaurant environment there is one main | | | | Now on to the third option that I told you we |
| objective and that is to prepare quality dishes in a | | | | would cover later in this article: working on the job |
| timely manner so that the customer is satisfied. | | | | while you are attending cooking school. The |
| Your head chef and co-workers do not have time | | | | advantage to this option is that you will be |
| to explain how a dish is made, or the history and | | | | practicing what you are learning in school. You get |
| culture behind the food that is prepared. It is | | | | to truly experience it and not just read about it in |
| simply too busy. So you will have to seek out | | | | some textbook. |
| your education on your own, unless of course | | | | This is by far the best option of course but not |
| someone is willing to take the time and teach | | | | for everyone. There will be many sacrifices when |
| you, but this is rarely the case. | | | | taking this route toward becoming a chef. Holding |
| CULINARY SCHOOL EDUCATION | | | | a job while going to school will be very difficult. |
| The advantages of Attending a Cooking School | | | | You will be exhausted both physically and |
| Culinary school can be a truly rewarding | | | | mentally, and if you do not work extra hard, your |
| experience if you keep your eyes and ears open | | | | grades will suffer. If your grades suffer, then you |
| and apply yourself. There is much to be learned | | | | may get less attention from your instructors. On |
| and exposed to. This is where the history, culture | | | | the flip side, you may impress your instructors |
| and techniques regarding the preparation of the | | | | with your hard work and interest. |
| food comes into play. | | | | So whatever path you choose, remember the |
| You can learn where the dish came from and the | | | | most important thing is perseverance. Without |
| variety of ways to create certain dishes. You can | | | | staying power and patience you will have a |
| learn how to purchase and store your ingredients. | | | | difficult time making it as a chef. I wish you all the |
| You get to work together with other students as | | | | best and God Bless. |
| a team, which is a very important factor in the | | | | |