Skills needed to become a chef include a keen sense of taste and smell, and passion for food and cooking. This keen sense is associated with the ability to recognize subtle nuances in flavors, and an urge to innovate with combinations. Chefs also need to have an efficient memory, as it is not easy to remember all ingredients and the quantities required to prepare a meal for two or more.

     A chefs job involves long hours of work, and a very alert mind. They have to spend most evenings and weekends on their feet. The kitchens are fast-paced and people are generally working under stress. A good chef not only has to balance his own long hours, but has to keep the creative juices flowing for everyone who is involved in all aspects of cooking. This would only be possible if a high level of teamwork is at play. It is not possible to create a splendid meal in an inharmonious kitchen. Chefs have to manage workers, delegate responsibility and direct the whole meal preparation process.

     A desire for perfection, and a hunger for learning more is what drives a chef. Creativity in not only cooking the food, but in presentation, is what mostly sets a skilled chef apart from an ordinary one. Creativity and a flair for experimentation are important traits of top chefs. The ability to plan and organize a kitchen is also necessary to be a chef.

     Educational Requirements to Become a Chef

     There are many culinary schools that offer two or four year college programs. Here one gets trained in the the various aspects of a kitchen. One not only learns about cooking, but also about purchasing, store-keeping and inventory, and kitchen and restaurant management, etc. Some hotels and restaurants have their own training programs, from where they generally absorb the best into their own apprenticeship programs. Culinary schools offer hands-on experience and formal training. Most restaurants want their chefs to have a culinary college degree and hands-on work experience in the food industry.

     The other way to become a chef is to start out as support staff in the kitchen, with a special task to perform, such as preparing vegetables, soups, or be a part of the baking division. However, one needs to have some developed culinary skills to do so. Many young chefs work for several years under different mentors to acquire experience and the right skill, before running a kitchen as head chefs, or staring out their own restaurants.

     Age requirements for becoming a chef vary from place to place. Generally, one needs to be at least 16 years and above to become a chef. While one can become a chef at any age above 16, it is advisable to start young, preferably in a college or school dedicated to chef training. Continue Reading »

     A striking feature of the chef job description is administrating and closely monitoring the eatables or food which are being prepared in the kitchen of the hotels. Senior chefs keep a tab on the performance of the cooks and guide them, so as to make the food items in a best possible way. The chefs do a lot of quality checks on the food items before they are served to the visitors. Apart from preparing the food, chefs also take keen interest in preparing the menu, increasing the contacts with the vendors and making sure that the customers are fully satisfied with the service provided by the hotel. Chefs also do the task of ordering the supplies and maintaining a record of the production. They are also involved in the process of deciding the costs of the various food items and beverages. If the restaurant requires some new cooking equipment which is new in the market, the chefs use their contacts and complete the buying process. The quality of the food items prepared in the kitchen is kept intact by the experienced executive chefs, by planned standardization of the recipes. More on famous and great chefs.

     Another important aspect of the chef job description is to maintain cleanliness, hygiene and safety in the kitchen. Cleanliness of the food prepared can be ensured by storing it in a right manner. He also plays an important role in deciding how should the food be served to the customers. Senior chefs take serious note of the complaints received from the customers and try their best to find a permanent solution for the problems. Due to their vast experience, the chefs may also be entrusted the responsibilities of hiring talented and skilled professional cooks for the hotel they work for. Conducting training programs and interactive and practical learning sessions is also a part of the chef job description. Fixing the sizes and the quantities in which the meals would be served to the customers, is also decided by the chefs. After having discussed the chef job description in detail, let us now know more about the chef salary range. More on career opportunities.

     Chef Salary Range

     The salaries for chefs have seen a good rise over the past few years and are expected to get better in the days to come. The chef salary range depends on the skills, educational qualifications and professional experience. The candidates who have done certificate courses from reputed culinary arts school can expect a better placement and salary package. The salary for the chefs working in reputed chain of star hotels is much more than those working in the local restaurants. The sous chefs are believed to earn anything between USD 35000 and USD 50000 per year. The salary for the experienced chefs can be more than USD 65000 per year. The pastry chefs are known to draw around USD 30000 per year in the initial stages of their career. The salary of the executive chefs varies largely according to the experience and place of work. As an experienced executive chef, you can easily earn more than USD 75000 per year.

     Get more information here.