Train To Be a Chef

WHILE Indian chefs, today, are excelling at foreign cuisines like Mexican, Mediterranean and sushi, our own desi cuisine never fails. Consider this; India is made up of 28 states and seven union territories. While a dining table in Kashmir looks very different from one in Kanyakumari, even within a 30 kilometre radius dining options vary based on one’s religion, community and food choices.

Even the respective colonial influence has left its mark on Indian platters.The food varies depending on the season and offers a lot of depth.

Do you also have a passion for food? Think to become a chef.

Getting TrainedTraditionally, those aspiring to be chefs would pursue a degree or diploma in hotel management, which trains one in the hospitality industry's core functions - Housekeeping, Front office, Food & Beverage and Food Production.

Job Scenario The Bureau of Labour Statistics offers a positive forecast. An 11 percent increase in employment for chefs and food professionals, is expected by 2016.

Finding Your Niche An awareness of all cuisines is good, developing a specialisation helps one excel.

Post Chef’s Training Recruiters include 5-star hotels, restaurants, food chains, corporates, caterers and more. While uniformity is missing when it comes to the chef’s career hierarchy, Corporate Chef, Executive Chef, Senior Executive Sous chef, Sous Chef, Junior Sous Chef, Chef de partie, Demi Chef de partie and Commis. As chefs ascend the ladder, they eventually end up doing a lot more then cooking. This includes quality control over ingredients and food served, curbing wastage, managing finances, planning menus and hiring and managing teams. Hence, a good chef has to be a good leader.

The Labours of LoveWhile money, fame and celebrities on speed dial are by-products of success, be prepared to slog it out for the first five years of you career,  including keeping work stations spotless and peeling potatoes. But take heart that most veteran chefs have been through this grind and consider these basic tasks essential to lay the foundation.

In case you haven’t realised, the word 'chef' tends to get prefixed before one's name, almost like a title, which of course must be earned. Some chefs have even been known to wield more power than the General Manager of the hotel! This is simply because people know  the real value of good food – priceless.