What is it like to be a Chef in a High-End Restaurant?
Everyone loves the allure of the high-end restaurant. Fine dining pulls in everyone, not just for the food, but for the experience of saying a particular chef cooked for them. Those interested in being that chef know that culinary school is the quickest way to help them along their career path. Here’s some more information about a chef’s duties and responsibilities in a high-end restaurant.
The Daily Duties of a Head Chef
You might be surprised to learn that cooking food is not the most important job a chef performs. While cooking delicious and interesting dishes is a vital part of the role, being a chef is more than just putting food on plates. Here are some things a chef might do during their daily tasks.
- The head chef handles menu planning. They must be able to produce unique combinations of flavors and dishes that appeal to the taste buds of upscale diners on a continuous basis. This can mean creating new recipes or re-imagining old favorites.
- Once the menu is set, the chef is responsible for sourcing and purchasing ingredients. A good chef understands that the quality of their dishes depends on the quality of their ingredients, and carefully plans menus to fit their allowed budget.
- When the restaurant opens for business, the head chef coordinates kitchen staff and helps prepare orders. Many chefs will visually inspect each dish before it is served, to ensure the product meets kitchen standards.
- Food safety is one of the chef’s most vital responsibilities. This includes monitoring food storage, keeping accurate records, checking deliveries, and ensuring stocks are properly rotated.
- At the end of the night, the head chef oversees the cleanup process. They will also set prep schedules, write shopping lists, and complete other administrative tasks.
The head chef’s job extends beyond the kitchen. Many chefs will help resolve customer complaints, organize the activities of service staff, and any other front-of-house issues that might affect his ability to deliver food.
A chef’s exact duties depend on their official title. Sous, pantry, and station chefs all take their orders from the head chef. It is the head chef’s job to ensure the commercial kitchen runs smoothly and consistently produces high-quality plates.
The Importance of Education for Aspiring Chefs
A culinary education is the best foundation for a successful career in high-end eating establishments. A degree in culinary arts prepares you for the demands of working in an environment that requires a high degree of skill and speed.
In a culinary training program, students learn:
- How to identify and use different flavors and textures to create original dishes.
- Time management skills that are vital to delivering food efficiently
- Branding practices that help get you noticed for more prestigious positions
- Cooking skills like knife, sauce, and baking techniques
- Pantry and inventory management
- Ingredient selection
- Plating and presentation
- Sanitation and food safety
A training program will give you the knowledge necessary to start your entry-level kitchen career with confidence. Programs also offer externships, which allow you to test your acquired skills in a real working kitchen.
A solid culinary education is important for those seeking employment in high-end establishments. An established restaurant is usually too busy to take the time for extensive on-the-job training. These eateries want employees they can put to work right away. Successful completion of culinary training and externships will prove that you have the experience and ability these establishments need.
Are you interested in the world of culinary arts? If you want to earn an Associates of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, consider ECPI University’s Culinary Institute of Virginia. With an accelerated schedule and year-round classes, you could earn your degree quicker and start looking for work faster. For more information about this exciting degree program, connect with a helpful admissions counselor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Arts - Associate’s
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