Culinary Arts
Nov 4, 2014 | 10:00 am
Everyone knows pastry chefs create some of the most dazzling and delicious deserts in the world. You’ve likely been amazed by their technical skills and artistry when watching reality TV shows like Top Chef Just Deserts. They are the ultimate culinary artists creating treats that are just as pleasing to the eye as they are to the pallet, but you may be wondering what the job description of a pastry chef really is. We’ve got the answers you need to help you decide if becoming a pastry chef fits into your career goals. Education and Training Unlike bakers, pastry chefs... Read more...
Nov 4, 2014 | 9:00 am
Do you love baking bread, cakes, and other delicacies? Have you thought about baking as a career? Maybe you’re not sure what you want to do, but baking seems like something you would enjoy doing professionally. Whatever your reasons for considering a career in baking, there are several things to consider. That’s where this article comes in handy. We’ve put together some of the more important things to consider when thinking about becoming a professional baker. On the Job Training or Apprenticeship Program Most jobs for bakers don’t require any formal training, bakers will typically learn “on the job” or... Read more...
Nov 4, 2014 | 8:00 am
Career Preparations All over the world, countries have begun offering culinary arts degree programs as a way for people who are passionate about cooking to gain a knowledge base in food preparations, International cuisine and restaurant management skills. Although it’s not necessary to have a degree in the culinary arts to work in the kitchen, your culinary degree is a statement of earnestness in your commitment to excellence in food services. It also tells the prospective employer that you have learned the techniques involved in creating specialty dishes, hospitality skills and kitchen management. How long does culinary school take? Often,... Read more...
Nov 3, 2014 | 11:00 am
You might be wondering what benefits, if any, are offered by earning an Associate’s degree in Culinary Arts rather than just jumping in and learning on the job. After all, if you take a job as a cook, you can earn money and learn how to cook in a professional kitchen at the same time without the extra time and expense of a culinary arts education. Let’s take a closer look at some important culinary arts information to help you see the benefits of earning an associate’s degree in culinary arts. Your Earning Potential is Greatly Increased Probably the most... Read more...
Nov 3, 2014 | 10:00 am
A culinary arts chef is a person that basically earns a living working in the culinary arts field. A couple of examples would include hotel chefs, caterers, and restaurants. Using the loosest interpretation possible, a culinary arts chef is the person who prepares and cooks food for a living. He or she can also prepare and create drinks such as beverages and cocktails as well. He or she combines the technical processes of preparing food and drinks with the innovativeness of an artist. However, in daily use, chefs that aren’t working in high-end, professional kitchens are typically called cooks. They... Read more...
Nov 3, 2014 | 9:00 am
Wearing the Chef’s Jacket It’s a special accomplishment for the person who trades in the cook’s jacket for that of a chef. It generally means years of commitment to the food service industry, learning the trade from the ground up, as master potato peeler and vegetable slicer to soup and sauce preparations, then assistant cook for the main dishes. Restaurants like to groom their chefs. Chain restaurants concentrate on cooks who are able to execute the platters for the menu with a consistency that trademarks their items as the type of flavor the customers have come to expect. Country clubs,... Read more...
Nov 3, 2014 | 8:00 am
Upon graduating from culinary arts school, do not be shocked to find that there is a wide salary range across every available professional culinary position. Being a chef requires one to have a variety of skills. Chef Career Salary A chef’s salary is based on a number of factors, some of these factors are clearly within one’s control, and others are not. Having a culinary arts education/training prepares you to take on several roles in the kitchen. It is important to understand that your very first role in the kitchen is not the role of an Executive Chef, so you... Read more...
Nov 2, 2014 | 12:00 pm
Chef de cuisine (“chef” for short) is charged with managing everything in a professional kitchen. A chef is the person in charge and who also reports to the owner of the establishment where he or she works. That is, if they do not own the establishment themselves. A chef decides on the menu, specials, how the plates/platter should look when it leaves the kitchen, and decides on the signature dishes. Whether great, good, or bad, the chef is responsible for the plates that leave the kitchen and the restaurant’s profitability. Chef Career Job Description •Creates the menu from top to... Read more...
Nov 2, 2014 | 11:00 am
According to the National Restaurant Association, the average profit on checks over $25 for private restaurants is only 3.2 percent. These razor thin profit margins severely limit the flexibility that typical restaurants have when it comes to paying higher salaries to chefs. Hotels, on the other hand, aren’t limited in the same way many private restaurants are limited. According to Michel Morauw, the general manager of the Park Hyatt Washington, hotels will pay “whatever it takes” to get, and keep, the best chefs. Differences Between Hotel and Freestanding Restaurants While the pay can be higher at hotel restaurants, it’s worth... Read more...
Nov 2, 2014 | 10:00 am
What is Culinary School Like? There are so many culinary schools available; it can be difficult to decide which one is best for you. All culinary schools will tell you they have the best curriculum and the best instructors. You’ll have to decide on whether or not you wish to re-locate, as the chances are good that your community college will offer culinary courses, and how much money you’re willing to invest. Once you’ve narrowed the choices down to a few, it’s a good idea to visit the kitchens to see what the culinary school is like. Some kitchens may... Read more...
