A CAREER IN CULINARY ARTS

Mackenzie Jackson English1010

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD

So many people have a love

for food, a passion that drives

them into a career in culinary

arts. My topic is centered

around this career, and the

main question I intend to

answer is ‘What steps should

you take in being successful

in the culinary arts’.

CHOICES

A career in culinary arts is a very broad term. The

most well sought after job is that of a Chef: A person

who cooks professionally for others. However, a chef

can be someone who runs a restaurant kitchen,

caters, or is privately hired to be someone's cook. A

chef uses the finest and freshest ingredients

available to create a creative delicious dish that their

clientele will remember forever. Being a baker, or a

pastry chef, is another career path many choose to

travel.

HOW TO START YOUR CAREER

Practice, practice practice: study recipes, ask

questions to those who have been cooking for years,

and experiment at home.

Work experience: strive to get a job in a kitchen,

even if it be washing dishes, and move your way up

in the kitchen to line cook.

Culinary school: Check out colleges that offer

degrees in the culinary arts. Take a tour, ask

questions, and make sure this is really want you

want to do with your life.

A SUCCESSFUL CHEF HAS TO BE:

+ Hard working: expect long nights,

weekends, and overtime

+ Cool headed: working in a

restaurant is stressful, and you have to

be calm to make things run smoothly

+ A social leader: Being able to

communicate with your staff positively

and effectively.

+ Attention to detail

+ Creativity

+Cleanliness

+ Passionate!

CULINARY SCHOOL

Culinary school is a very personal choice, because

every chef has their own opinion on whether a

degree is really appropriate or not for being a chef.

You can decide to start by cooking in a restaurant

and learning as much as possible and gaining real

world experience. However, many culinary schools

have great advantages.

DEGREE ADVANTAGES

Many culinary schools are involved with the community. Students attend

charity functions and competitions. They meet restaurant owners and

people who have been in this business for years.

You learn a lot of information about food and cooking in short amount of

time. You have an expert by your side to answer your every question and

help to perfect your skills.

A school’s career center can usually get your foot in the door of a highly

rated restaurant. They do not promise you that you will be a well known

chef, but give you the tools and resources for you to continue to pursue

your dream.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Be sure that food is what you want to work with professionally.

Working in the restaurant industry is not an easy task. Cooks work

in extremely hot conditions, are on their feet for many hours, and

receive a very poor salary. Though this seems negative, many

chefs wouldn’t give it up for anything else. They mix their work

with their play, and put all of their heart into their work. Also, a

degree in the culinary arts is not cheap, and it takes many years of

experience to get where you want to be. You have to remember

that there is always something else to learn about food.

RESOURCES

http://www.cookingschools.com

http://www.allculinaryschools.com/

http://culinaryartsinformation.org/history-of-culinar

y-arts

/

Becoming a Chef by Andrew Dornenburg

http://www.becomingachef.com/

FEEDBACK

Are there specific questions you have about

culinary arts that you would like me to answer in my

paper?

Any ideas for sources on this topic? Do you know of

someone in this career field?

What are your views on this chosen career? Do you

think it’s worth it? Do you believe someone does or

does not need to attend culinary school to become a

chef?