Things To Consider Before Becoming A Chef

The world of culinary arts holds a special place in society, and we love seeing professional Chefs cooking their signature dishes on TV programs and on social media, because we would love to have their talent and be able to cook like them. Don’t forget how enviable we are of them when we see them all dressed up in their fancy chef coats and their tall toque, which is the chef hat worn by professional chefs.

However, what we don’t realize is that the path to becoming a chef, and indeed the life of a chef, is not one that is easy. While they need to go to culinary school to learn the basics of their art, they also need to apprentice under an expert for some time, and very slowly gain their name in the industry. Usually, chefs start working in a kitchen as line cooks with their cook shirts and skull caps on, or if they have no experience whatsoever, as dishwashers, and slowly make their way up the ladder. It is long hours and very hard work, and practically no other life than the one they spend in the kitchen. Of course, it is a vocation that demands a lot of respect and is awe inspiring.

While there are both positive and negative aspects of becoming a chef, it is always best to consider every part of it, before you make a decision regarding your career path, so that you know that you are making the right choice, that suits you.

Here are some of the things you should know and think about before making that all-important decision about a career in the culinary arts:

• You need to attend culinary school – Although experience can get you somewhere in the world of culinary arts, it is essential that you have a degree from a recognized culinary school, if you want to get into greater things, such as working in an up-scale restaurant or hotel. However, it is widely agreed within the industry that high-end businesses usually consider only those candidates who have both a degree in the culinary arts as well as the required experience. So, it is a long path to take if you choose this field.
• It is physically demanding – Being a chef is a very physically demanding job, where you will be working on your feet for long hours (between 8 and 12 hours a day depending on how busy the restaurant is). In addition, it requires carrying heavy weights such as pots and pans, bags of food etc. You will be working in a hot and steamy environment that can be very crowded and busy, with people always running about. Getting proper meals on time will also not be possible, since you will most likely have to eat on the go, and make do with a snack rather than a full meal.
• It is stressful – Working in a busy commercial kitchen can be a very stressful job, especially during busy times when order tickets keep coming at a fast pace. If you are a person who cannot handle stress well, then this is not a job for you, because then you will be putting the people around you in a stressful situation as well.
• No social life – Working as a chef means that you will need to bid adieu to your own personal social life. Weekends and holidays are some of the busiest times for a restaurant, so you will definitely be working on these days. You will hardly get a chance to spend these holidays with your own family and friends. Usually the only off-time you may have is when your family and friends are at work, so having an active social life is not something that a chef does.
• The pay isn’t that good – Depending on your experience and expertise your pay will defer a great deal. However, it must be said that most starters in the industry will not get a high paycheck, and you will need to work your way up the ladder and gain a lot of experience and knowledge before you can demand a considerable pay from an employer.
• Experience – Your level of experience will defer greatly depending on where you work. Whether you are working in banquets, catering, fast food or fine dining, and will depend on what type of dishes you will be making at these places. Working in a range of different restaurants during your training period will give you experience in a wide variety of food preparations, but it is always best to decide on what type you like, and stick to it.
• Freedom to be creative – Being a chef means that you will need to create your own dishes, and there is a lot of freedom you get to try your own thing. You can change recipes, ratios, flavors, and try out new exciting dishes which will be signature to you.
• Bonding with your team – Being successful in a kitchen environment is a team effort, and as a Chef you can really bond with your team and team mates, working as one well-oiled machine. Whether you are the head chef wearing your chef coat and hat, the sous chef or a line chef wearing your skull cap, you are all a part of one team endeavoring to achieve a goal.
• Recognition – Being a professional chef means that you can gain recognition for your work, even though it may take some time and a lot of hard work to achieve the kind of status you are looking for. In addition, it gives you the opportunity to travel around the world, and work in various different countries and learn new cuisines and techniques.

As you can see there are many positives and negatives to working as a chef, and all these should be considered before you make a decision to go into that field. It is certainly not a vocation for everyone, but those who do succeed in the field of culinary arts have gone on to do great things and gain huge recognition around the world.