What is it like to be chef or cook?!
What is it like to be chef or cook?
I always wanted to be a chef or cook, but I don't know what it's like. I'm not looking for a job as one, but I just wanted to know what it's like from a real cook or chef.
Answers:
I worked in an upscale steak house for two years as a cook.
It was hot, stressful, boring, hectic, feet hurt, fingers cut, hand/arms burned, clothing stained and I smelled like cooked beef all the time.
I went with the chef, to purchase food from the farmers market at 5 in the morning. We obtained vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood's.
Arrived at the restaurant about 7 in the morning, unloaded the truck. I went home and the chef stayed to figure out exactly what we were serving that night.
I returned to the restaurant about 2-3 in the afternoon. Started prepping, per instructions left by the chef. By 5 the chef was preparing food to the tickets (orders) the floor staff were presenting from customers.
We prepared food until 10 at night, then the kitchen was closed. The chef lightly cleaned his area up before he left and I finished his area along with the prep area. I usually left the restaurant by 11 or so. Then it started all over the next day, I worked Sun, Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat.
The job consumed a lot of my time, but I was paid very well (I made as much as my friends in the factory) and I ate most of my meals there. The food was very fresh and tasty.
Anyone who got a job there, you could tell if they were doing it for the paycheck or for the love of great food. It was a great job, I loved it.
stressful
It is great! It is like showing off your greatest talent and passion every night. You can write your own rules. Express yourself through the only thing that every person regardless of origin can relate to...food.
you'll spend alot of time cooking according to peoples recipes and techniques. as you start to cook with more experience (good techniques especially french/italian), there will be a time when you start cooking with your palette, at that point you will want to open your own place or at least create your own menu and execute it. great place to be.
All of the above answers correct and if you enjoy cooking and it is what you want to do then do it. I prep cook only now but I enjoy preparing the food to the best of my ability and I know it is fresh and handled correctly. It is fun for me because it is what I enjoy doing. Sure there is the down side such as clean-up etc but there is in every job.