Steps to becoming a good chef?!
What would be the best possible way for me to prepare myself for becoming a chef? Is taking a liberal arts course a good idea?
Answers: I am a sophmore in Highschool, and i would very much like to be a chef! I have been thinking about becoming one more and more everyday. I have spoken with family members, and they have advised me to get an education in liberal arts before pursuing a career in cooking.
What would be the best possible way for me to prepare myself for becoming a chef? Is taking a liberal arts course a good idea?
Speaking from experience (I am a chef) The best advice i have to offer is have a willingness to learn. The best thing to do is to apply to a culinary school but in the meantime get a part time job in a local resturant... inform the chef of your desires to learn all you can and ask alot of questions, observe, start and the bottom and work your way up , but remember to learn all you can from those who work around you, and scope out good chefs in the area and observe them... Read menus, lots of menus... Gathering all the information i can has really helped me alot in my career and i have learned alot from those around me. Another tip of advice i can offer that has helped me is dont get caught up in the drama... Keep your eyes focused on your goals ... Research... learn all you can...thats about it, hope i wasnt too repetative.
well practice making meals at home or help out who ever is cooking dinner. or take some cooking classes. if there are home economics classes or social studies at your school that involve cooking then register for those as well. once your done high school u can apply for cullinary school and work in a few restarauts along the way should help.
Why liberal arts? Why not a culinary education?
You should try getting a job in the kitchen to see if you like it. Also, work experience is always a plus.
Don't be woo'd by what you see on TV reality shows or FoodNetwork. There's a lot of work that they don't show you on TV.
star with simple things like hamburgers,pizza,fries and stuff.
then if you get good at it start baking cakes cookies and cupcakes.and you can problaby make ham.
and if you become a pro you will cook veggies,chicken and candy and other stuff.
I agree with Dave C, you should ask a restaurant if you can see how do they cook for experience, if they dont let you, you can just go to youtube, i seen one of a videos that showed a life of a restaurant, and how are they screwed in dinner rush if a line cook snaps his finger off off a knife. I graduated from highschool last year and I cant get a restaurant even a dishwasher. I want to pursure food service but I dont even got any formal training, meaning i want to be in culinary school like "Culinary Instititue of America" but they want six-months of hands on training before getting me accepted. So train in highschool if you got home educatimatics. But any school brings you the door, only your skills can get you the job.