Chef Job Description

Learn The Chef Job Description And If You're Up To It

So what's the chef job description like? And would you still want to pursue it after knowing what it really entails? After all, there are always other culinary careers to choose from. But as a chef whether you learned on the job or at any accredited culinary schools, you will learn the same functions and responsibilities.

In general, when you make your way up to executive chef level, you become head of the kitchen, the big boss. That means having the run of the place even when someone else owns it. Because you're in charge from creating the menu to pricing, preparing and arranging the food for serving and supervising the rest of the kitchen staff to keeping records of your supplies.

Making your mark

It's a tough life to be a chef. And that's not just because of the schooling, up to four years if you go for a bachelor's degree, but to actually get to the pinnacle of your career. That either means you're executive chef in some high-profile or extremely popular restaurant or so well known yourself that you've opened up a place to showcase your culinary excellence that has become the in place to be. And the chef job description doesn't change whether you work for yourself or someone else.

But the hardships to get there and stay there are not for the faint of heart. Attending culinary schools is perhaps the easiest part. You're there to learn, pick up the skills and the tricks of the trade. Once out of it, you need to get the actual experience and go a step further, make your own mark. Enough to get the culinary arts salary worth your salt and the fulfillment that goes with it. The bigger challenge is: there are many talented individuals out there thinking the same thing you are.

So here's one valuable tip: get as much experience as you can from the start. Work in several establishments and train with the masters who can give your career a boost. Don't be afraid to explore and experiment. School taught you the basics. Once you've mastered them, you can twist, tweak, re-invent or create something that's entirely you. And often, that's when you truly become a chef.

Becoming a chef

People who love to cook will probably ask how to become a chef. You've got the main ingredient there: an affinity with food. It may be from the genes or acquired, but you can't hope to be a chef if you don't have a health appreciation of food. These days, culinary arts schools are everywhere. It's the most commonly taken route to become a chef. Or you can apprentice, working alongside chefs in various restaurants or other food establishments and learn the skills and knowledge there. With exposure, you can eventually choose where to specialize in.

There are also online culinary schools to help you with education. You decide if it's a certificate, associate or bachelor's degree you want to work on. But with a lot of passion, you just need a few months to train in school, then get more training working as line cook, assistant chef, pastry chef and other positions in the kitchen that won't require you to perform what's listed in the chef job description but will provide you with the experience you need to work your way to the top.

Needless to say, it's going to be awhile before you actually get the chef job description salary, that can sometimes run up to $100,000 if you are very good, but you should take every chance you get to hone your skills further and build a solid reputation.  

When you finally earn your stripes, you'll certainly be taking to heart the chef job description that includes:

• creating, planning and pricing menus
• preparing and cooking the food according to what was ordered
• garnishing and plating the food for serving
• supervising other kitchen staff, depending on the size of your operations
• ensuring cleanliness in the work place
• supervising cleaning and dishwashing
• purchasing supplies and equipment
• keeping records

You can hold chef positions at slightly lower levels (chef de cuisine, sous chef, chef de partie) that will have less responsibilities, or specialize in the preparation of a specific group of dishes. All these are good training if you're aim is to be the executive chef. Having worked your way to the top, you would be very familiar with the chef job description.

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