Category: General Food Recipes

It All Begins With Loving Your Craft

Well, it basically starts with your passion. Without this component it would be easy for you to give up your hopes for a chef career or at least, settle yourself in the kitchen and do what you are supposed to do. Without passion, you would start looking at cooking as a mere work rather than something that you like spending your time with. Without passion, you would look at each kitchen as the last place you would ever want to find yourself in. Without passion, nothing would fuel you towards making a name in the cooking industry or making a mark for yourself that would help you believe that you are pursuing that one thing you were born to pursue.

Thats all it takes- passion, everything else is secondary.

Many chefs seem to have this special talent on preparing menus that are not only appetizing but also filled with so much love for their creations. However there are others who are simply in the food industry because they were field by their desire to know every crucial thing about cooking. Each chef has his or her own personal desire when it comes to this field. But there is usually one denominator found in most of them, that is the desire to cook for the love of cooking.

It takes many years to produce a chef that lets love into his creations and alongside it are the best of the craft he has. Coupled with education on this art, chefs are able to make eating not just a simple component of living but also a pleasure that invites appetite.

You can start educating yourself in becoming a chef through apprenticing with an expert chef or through attending a culinary at school. But it would be best if you undergo both preparations. Even expert chefs still go through a couple of restaurants so as they may find the actual field they would want to settle in. There are actually various types of chefs and each type has its own job description and own field of mastery. And even experts still subject themselves to several mentors so that they could gather as much learning as they could accommodate.

Training could be obtained through vocation programs which may either be a two-year or four year course. Chefs could also be trained through apprenticeship programs under the supervision of an expert chef, professional culinary institutes, trade unions and industry associations. Additionally, there are some restaurants and hotels that offer their own training programs.

However, there are other paths towards a chef job. Individuals who have taken courses regarding commercial food preparation could enter their chef career without having to spend years with low-skilled, low-paying cooking job.

Take note though that each institute or school has its won curriculum and standards. However, students are basically learning through continuous practices. Depending on the school, students are given either the fundamentals or the whole-scope of culinary arts. But in some schools, basic practices, procedures and knowledge are given and the handling of this knowledge will depend largely on the capacity and manipulation of each student.

There may be courses on food purchasing, food lost control, menu planning, determination of cost, size and food proportion, storage and selection of food and management of leftover foods to help minimize the waste. Also, public health rules and restaurant sanitation are included in the course.

Hints to Becoming a Pastry Chef

If you want to become a pastry chef then you should know by now that it is not an easy road to travel. Here are some hints to help you become a pastry chef:

Examine yourself What do you know about making a pastry chef? In order to asses how much you have to learn to become a pastry chef, you need to learn where you stand. Examining yourself should reveal just how much you should learn and how much you want to learn about making pastry. Try to think about how much you want to become a pastry chef: is your desire enough to help you overcome the obstacles you have to face?

Get help If you want to learn how to become a pastry chef, then you should start looking for help. There are different areas you can turn to. Today, the internet provides people with most information about any topic. Through the internet, you will be able to find out what other people think you need to become a pastry chef. You will be able to explore the different meanings of pastry all over the world.

That’s right: meanings.

Some people may think of pastry as having types however, you should realize that all over the world, pastries do not have types. Instead, they have different interpretations according to culture and geographic location. This means that you will need to get the help of different people in order to even get yourself ready for the task of becoming a pastry chef.

You should also try to get books. Many people underestimate the capacity of books to impart knowledge but you should remember that you need every resource you can get in order to become a pastry chef. Besides, not every type of information can be found on the internet.

Train Every pastry chef has trained. What else are you going to do with all the information that you have gathered? In order to become a pastry chef, you need to either enroll in a baking class or apprentice yourself to an experienced pastry chef. Becoming a pastry chef is actually cheaper than training in other culinary arts, at least in terms of tuition.

What you need to understand, though, is that becoming a pastry chef mostly involves science. This is because precise measurements are needed to produce great pastry. It is also true that since pastries are usually made in batches, you need to make sure that each piece of the batch tastes the same with the others. This would make sure that the people eating the pastries would not be disappointed. You need to train your skills in order to truly master the science.

Improve and Innovate Of course, in order to become a pastry chef, you also need to understand the fact that there is art in it. People will get sick of eating the same type of pastry over and over again. You need to find ways to make your creations different. You can be subtle, you can be bold, but you have to be different! This is what it truly means to become a pastry chef. You should never be complacent that you have reached your peak. You need to constantly improve your skills in order to improve your creations.

Factors to Note of on How to Become a Chef

Factors to Note of on How to Become a Chef

Is there anyone in the world who does not love eating food? Obviously it would be hard to track down anyone who has the least interest to taste all the food that the world could possibly offer. While there are people who fancy themselves in dining at the finest restaurants, there are likewise lots of them who prefer devouring the homemade recipes. So what is the point of difference between the two? First and foremostthe basic difference could be pointed out at the cook!

Generally, the food preparation at home could be taken charged of by anyone who has the skill to cook and who preferably knows the recipe of the dish. However, those foods at the dining restaurants are prepared by the expert individual who is rather called the chef. So how does one become a chef?

First of all, there is a basic education and some other related goals that need to be completed by someone who aspires to become a full-fledged chef. It does not mean that because you are equipped with the cooking skills you will already pass to be a chef. There is a formal education that will grant you the certification of becoming a chef, so to speak. Becoming a chef is an important career. People will recognize and appreciate your craft and there is nothing more fulfilling than that! But then, you must understand that becoming a chef is not that easy. Pursuing a career in being a chef would take up too much of your time. You will be required to fully stand on your feet for a long time to go through the hustles and bustles of food preparation. You could be on the call for all day and all night. Do you think you are ready to fight this grueling moment? Better think of it first.

There are a lot other things that are necessary if you wish to become a chef. One of which is a personal hands-on experience. There is nothing more comparable than that of a personal experience with cooking. An exposure to the craft will totally be a plus point. Such hands-on experience will be a good start for you as you take up a course in the culinary art schools. You could enhance your exposure by working in restaurants while still studying or handling the cooking preparation at home or during parties.

Another aspect that an aspiring chef could focus on is observing and understanding the works of others. By simply looking at how other people go on with the preparation of the meal, you could learn a lot too. By exposing yourself to the reactions of these people, you could assess yourself as to whether you would also prefer to become a chef or you would be hands up on the job in no time at all.

As you have made up your mind to become a chef, the next step that you must take is to look for culinary schools that would sharpen your cooking skills and broaden your knowledge on various recipes to be mastered. You could luckily spot the scholarship offers and gain lots of potential clients with which you could present your cuisine. The schooling duration could last for up to four years.

It matters that you have an extensive exposure with the preparation of several kinds of food from fruits, vegetables, and up to the meats. It is also your responsibility to wash all the utensils that you’ve used. Take in mind that becoming a chef entails hard work, perseverance, and dedication.

Education as a Requirement to Become a Chef

How does one become a chef? Many people have asked these and each may have different answers to offer.

A chef is the overseer of all the activities in a kitchen. He is the person that prepares, innovates and cooks food professionally. There are various types of chef careers that one could try looking into. But each has its own requirement. But central among them is- the love for food.

Without the capacity to create and innovate recipes, chefs would be turned into mere cooks. But even the cooks could be called chef if he is working professionally and he is the only one working in the kitchen since basically, chef is the French term for a chief. Thus, the chef in any kitchen is just the manager of every business occurring in it.

So, what are the paths towards becoming a chef?

Well, many would tell you to get educated in the industry of kitchen, garlic and Caesars Salad. You could start with a one-year program from a school that offers culinary arts. However, you also have the choice to enroll for a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts. Which ever way, your only real hope is to have a break or you might end up preparing gravies.

In formal education, you could further have options. Among the many are apprenticeship and institutional training. The latter delves deeper on study program while apprenticeship helps students learn by observing what and how professional chefs do it while being employed.

Apprenticeship seems to be the best option since it will not incur you to spend as much as with enrolling yourself into an institution. Plus you get the pleasure of observing people do some real great stuff like turning ordinary ingredient into extraordinary meals. Through observation, you will be able to really examine if you the vocation for cooking.

This kind of training will also expose you to the core actions of a chef’s life and give you the real element of hands-on experiences. This would also give you the standpoint between choosing if you truly want to pursue culinary arts as a career.

Any school on culinary arts would be able to help you get formal class studies and application. Be sure to check on the credentials of the instructors and the curriculum. Remember that you’ll be paying cash for them, it’s just proper that you get the other end of the bargain.

Your training and education could be your entry towards a chef’s career. It will arm you with tangible proofs of your proficiency in cooking and preparing food. But still, nothing beats passion on cooking and sheer love for food.

After school you will need to have some years of experiences. You might start as a dishwasher or as a help on the executive chef. You might even have tasks such as preparation of utensils or peeling and cutting ingredients.

But that doesnt matter since all you need is to survive this stage. This must not discourage you from pursuing your course of life. Instead, look at these experiences as extra trainings that will help you find better-paying jobs afterwards. This hard training will hone you more to become resolute in pursuing careers.

After years of dealing with this kind of life, you can now actually move into the real business of a chef. As you move up the ladder, you will take with you the education you earned from formal training and apprenticeship, hardwork and achievement.

Become a Pastry Chef: Know these Things First

Who does not love pastries? Pastries are all-time favorite desserts. They are the best to be given as gifts. Most people struggle to create pastries but only a few succeed. But how about with the pastry chefs? What are their secrets in creating the best pastries in town? Have it ever occurred to you that you want to become a pastry chef? Read on and be made aware of the aspects that envelop the world of a pastry chef.

Who is a pastry chef?

A patissier or a pastry chef is someone who is based in professional kitchen surroundings. He is naturally skilled with the preparation and creation of desserts, pastries, and some other baked products. The pastry chef works in bakeries, bistros, hotels, and restaurants.

The pastry chef is one of the members of the brigade de cuisine in most professional kitchens and is likewise tagged as the station chef in the pastry department. There are assistants working with the pastry chef.

What are the duties and obligations of the pastry chef?

There are a lot of responsibilities that need to be catered to by the pastry chef. Among of which are ordering, menu planning, and costing. The everyday operations of the establishment obligate the pastry chef to research on new recipes, cooking concepts, and the testing of the newfound recipes. It is the duty of the pastry chef to attend to the advance preparation of several desserts before the dinner begins. The plating of the desert is typically assigned to the Garde manger during the specific time of ordering.

The pastry chef is the one who is in charged with the dessert menu. The dessert menu covers not only the traditional ones but also the dessert beverages, gourmet cheese platters, dessert wines, and many others.

What are the various positions of pastry chefs?

There are many designated positions for the pastry chefs especially within the large food establishments, restaurants, and hotels. The highest so far is the Chef de Cuisine who takes charge of conceptualizing the menu dishes and selects the direction of the foods. The executive chef is a subordinate to the chef de cuisine. He makes the recipes, controls the costs, and does the administrative works. The head chef is involved in smaller food operations. The sous chef ensures that the prepared food passes the standards that have been set up. It is the chef de partie who manages a particular section in the kitchen; the commis chef does the large volume of cooking whereas the apprentice chefs are those that are being trained.

What are the usual activities that the pastry chef executes?

Among the many obligations of the pastry chefs are:

To connive with the other chefs in the establishment regarding the pairing of desserts and menu planning;

To test and evaluate at the same time the dessert recipes and new pastry lineup;

To order the supplies from different vendors or go directly to the growers of the fresh berries and fruits;

Prepare the budget allotment for the department;

Supervise the transition of the chefs and those apprentices; and

Provide the supplementary trainings or educational programs regarding dessert and pastry making.

If you desire to become a pastry chef, you need to be abreast with all these aspects. You could either take up the related courses on Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management or the Bachelor of Science in Culinary Management. As you enter the world of the pastry chef, you’ll soon realize how vital you could be in the world of cuisine specialty.