Culinary Arts
Nov 6, 2014 | 10:00 am
A pastry chef (also known as a “pâtissier”) is known for creating superb desserts for bakeries, restaurants, hotels, cafes, casinos and more. Even though pastry chefs are also known to bake breads and several batches of cookies, pastry chefs should not be confused with bakers. A baker typically makes muffins, breads, rolls, and simple cookies, while a pastry chef focuses on creating an entire dessert platter. Wherever top quality and delicious pastries are served, a pastry chef(s) can be found working really hard behind the scene. Pastry chefs are in charge of the dessert section/station in a professional kitchen and... Read more...
Nov 6, 2014 | 9:00 am
A pastry chef in California directs and oversees pastry cooks, keeps their section of the kitchen clean and well organized, order supplies and tracks inventory. Pastry chefs are very skilled workers who combine the technical aspects of food preparation with the ingenuity of an artist when developing new recipes. These chefs also have the responsibility of maintaining safety and health standards by making sure that fresh food is properly stored, and dishes, utensils and work surfaces are scrupulously clean and disinfected. A lot of pastry chefs in California earn a reputable name because of the creativeness and quality of the... Read more...
Nov 6, 2014 | 8:00 am
Becoming a pastry chef is a little like choosing to be a nurse instead of a doctor. Pastry chefs still have the same kind of pressure and need to possess the same kind of skills as other chefs, but often aren’t given the same recognition as their counterparts. This is also true in regards to salary. Pastry chefs have to be in this culinary field for the love of baking, not because they want to get rich or be famous. This is a good thing because that rarely happens to pastry chefs. The truth of the matter is pastry chefs... Read more...
Nov 5, 2014 | 12:00 pm
You’ve heard the title many times. Maybe it was on the door of a favorite restaurant, or maybe you’ve seen executive chefs compete on reality TV shows like Top Chef or Iron Chef America. You’ve also likely wondered exactly what an executive chef does and maybe even how to become one. We’ve put together an executive chef job description to help answer your questions and get you started on your way to becoming an executive chef (if that sounds like a good career path for you). Culinary Duties of Executive Chefs The primary culinary duties of executive chefs are to... Read more...
Nov 5, 2014 | 11:00 am
Careers in the culinary arts are hot right now. With the success of shows like Top Chef, Master Chef, and Hell’s Kitchen; people around the country are getting a taste of living the chef’s life—or are they? A recent controversy in the national media arose when long time chef Jacques Pepin criticized the impression shows like Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen leave in the minds of viewers. According to Pepin, working in a professional kitchen doesn’t have a lot of room for screaming, insults, and bad tempers. Pepin states; “The worst offenders insult and humiliate their crew, cursing and swearing, with... Read more...
Nov 5, 2014 | 10:00 am
Hollywood’s New Stars Largely because of the number of television programs devoted to chefs and gourmet pursuits, Americans have become fascinated with those who excel in the culinary arts. Although the reality isn’t usually a cut-throat relationship between rivaling cooks, chefs must be extremely knowledgeable in the skills and techniques used to produce fine cuisine. They must be imaginative and creative, able to work with whatever foods they have on hand to produce exciting dishes. Their knowledge is based on years of experience with working in a kitchen, trying out new recipes and improving existing ones. Learning the Fundamentals Nearly... Read more...
Nov 5, 2014 | 9:00 am
One of the biggest factors in determining the salaries of chefs across the United States is location. Chefs in each state can expect to earn a different salary than their counterparts across the country because of the differences in the socio-economic, cultural, and financial aspects of each area. Before considering a culinary career as a chef, it is wise to take a look at the following list of salaries by state to see if the average take home pay (for executive chefs) of a specific area is worth the time and commitment it takes to be a successful chef in... Read more...
Nov 5, 2014 | 8:00 am
Edible art in the form of food is becoming more popular than ever before. Jobs in the culinary arts field can be found at private homes, restaurants, caterers, test kitchens, schools and institutions. Cooks, chefs, and food preparation experts work in various settings from ultramodern eating establishments to greasy spoon cafés; some culinary experts specialize in creating delicious desserts while others create tasty treats with spirits, wines, and other types of beverages. Work in the culinary arts is as diverse as the tastes in food and drinks. Some people with a culinary arts degree choose to write and blog about... Read more...
Nov 4, 2014 | 12:00 pm
There really has never been a better time to be a chef. With the rise of the celebrity-chef in full swing, and the upturn in diners seeking out higher quality offerings at restaurants, the job outlook for chefs should be pretty good. Just remember that when a career is hot, the competition is stiff. We’ve got the information you need to help you take advantage of one of the hottest careers going. Outlook and Forecasts According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 115,400 chefs working in the United States, in 2012. The BLS predicts that by the year... Read more...
Nov 4, 2014 | 11:00 am
Though there is a huge overlap in the ingredients, they typically work with, pastry chefs and bakers are different. A pastry chef is responsible for managing the pastry team and also responsible for carrying out administrative tasks within the kitchen. A pastry chef also produces baked goods, but in comparison to bakers, they handle smaller orders. Becoming a pastry chef will require precision, creativity, and patience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), pastry chefs earn an average of $40,630 yearly as of 2010. The Job Description of a Pastry Chef Food Preparation A pastry chef prepares all pastry... Read more...
