What are Pastry Chef’s Job Duties?

---

You’ve seen them on reality TV shows like Top Chef Just Desserts creating edible works of art that amaze everyone with their beauty, attention to detail, and most of all, their wonderful flavors. What you may be wondering, especially if you might be thinking about a career in the culinary arts, is where can I find some information on the pastry chefs job description. We’ve got that taken care of in this article; here, you’ll find all the information about what the working life of a pastry chef is really like.

The Pastry Chef Hierarchy

Like most areas of the professional kitchen, there is a defined hierarchy among the pastry chefs and bakers. At the top is the head or executive pastry chef, below him or her are the pastry chefs, and at the bottom are the bakers. In most professional kitchens, the bakers are responsible for baking bread and assisting the pastry chefs; for example, they may bake the cakes that the pastry chefs will then assemble and decorate.

The executive pastry chef will be in charge of the entire pastry section of the restaurant and will be required to perform as many managerial tasks as they do culinary tasks. They will hire, manage, and (if the need arises) fire the pastry chefs and bakers. The head pastry chef will also take on the responsibility of ensuring all the equipment and ingredients are available and working. If the pastry group runs out of a vital ingredient or their equipment is not functioning, this is usually the head pastry chef’s fault. They will also be the driving creative force behind the pastry group, designing new deserts and training the other pastry chefs in the preparation and presentation of the deserts.

The regular pastry chefs are responsible for the actual preparation and presentation of the deserts during a service. The pastry chef’s job description requires them to have a keen artistic sense and ability. Restaurants that hire pastry chefs expect the desserts they create to be as beautiful as they are delicious.

The Everyday Duties of Pastry Chefs

Restaurants will typically have their signature desserts that are available every day, but most will also have dessert menu offerings that change sometimes daily, sometimes less frequently. Pastry chefs may want to take advantage of a particular fruit that is in season and build a dessert around that fruit, or they may want to emphasize a particular season or holiday, or they may like to keep their desert menu fresh. There are many reasons to keep new items coming on the desert menu. As new items are added, the pastry chefs must learn the new items, and be able to execute them with precision.

A typical day will start with a review of the current desert menu and possible instructions from the head pastry chef, if there are any changes or additions to the menu. The pastry chefs will then spend the first part of their day prepping for the upcoming service. During a service, they will spend most of their time preparing the desserts ordered by customers and restocking as required items are depleted.

The more you learn about a pastry chef’s job description, the more excited you may become at the prospect of a career as a pastry chef. The next step for you is to contact your local culinary school and find out more about their pastry and baking programs.