To Be a Cook or Chef

One thing that I learned about being a cook is that how much of an education you need to be a cook. For instance you need a high school diploma too become a professional chef. If it is a beginning job at a small or chain restaurant then you don’t even need a high school diploma. It is mandatory for high ranking chefs in high ranking restaurants to have several years of experience and also need to have an interest in cooking. To get experience you must go to your closest independent cooking school or professional culinary institute. In any culinary school or college you must obtain at least two to four years of cooking experience. Also those who have taken classes in commercial food preparation may begin in a lower kitchen job.

Another thing that I have learned in my research was how many hour chefs put in for their work.  They work for about eight to nine hours.  They usually get their kitchen clean and organized first. Then they check if the kitchen is stocked to the correct amount. Then they start making their sauces and appetizers. While doing that they check if the other chefs are in their stations starting up as well. Next when the restaurant opens they begin preparing meals quickly and as a team while supervising other line cooks. Then they begin to wined down and clean up their work station. Then they start clean their stove, grill, and burner then put away all their unused food.  Finally checking if all other line cooks have their work stations all cleaned up.

            Then I learned the breakdown of activities per day.  They only have to work about two hours by yourself. Then they have to work eight hours with co-workers and serving customers. And two hours working with numbers. For four hours they make things. They must spend eight hours inside and eight hours on their feet. And finally they must spend six hours doing physical work.

            Another thing I learned was how much money chefs make. I now know that incomes of chefs and cooks and food preparation workers differ with various regions of the country. Wages typically increase in the more fancy restaurants. In 2002 the middle wage income for a chef was $13.43. $9.03-$19.03 was the middle wage. Now they make about $12-$15 and make roughly $35,000 to $100,000 per year. And professional chefs can make up to $200,000 per year.

            The last thing I learned from the interviews was the goods and bads of being a chef. Some goods are that “you’re always in a fast paced environment.” This is good because you can be on a role and never have to stop and look at the clock. Another thing is that your crew workers and you are always working together and having fun. It is also nice being able to create food. “And watching the reactions on the customer’s faces.” “Receiving compliments from the customers on the food I prepare is always nice. It makes our efforts seem worthwhile.” Some advice from the chefs was to take cooking courses. And when you are a cook keep a good attitude.

            The significance of me doing this research was to know more about my career and to prepare myself for my job it also can convince the reader that a chef is a good choice for a job. Some of the things I learned were the goods and the bads of being a chef. Then I learned how much money chefs and cooks make. After that I learned the breakdown of activities. The next thing I learned was how many hours chefs and cooks put in for their work. And the last thing that I learned was how much of an education you need to be a chef or a cook. This whole experience now changed my future from thinking I wanted to be a chef to knowing I wanted to be a chef. I have learned so much about the culinary arts.  Now I know I that I would love to be a chef or cook at a 4or 5 star restaurant.