** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

The position of a sous chef is the second most important in a professional  kitchen after the executive chef. Though a sous chef's job is to answer and assist the executive chef, they also have authority over the other kitchen staff. Most of the cooking and culinary terms have been taken from the French language. The word ‘sous' is also a French word which means under. Basic job responsibilities of a sous chef include food preparation, food production, food supply control, cost control and supervising the kitchen staff. In addition, the sous chef job also requires them to assist the executive chef in the kitchen in menu planning, supplies, inventory, pricing, safety issues etc. It really needs a lot of patience, years of experience and skills to work your way up to the position of a sous chef. Besides being a profitable job position, the sous chef career also demands a lot. You should always be ready to work with utmost dedication, be eager to learn from senior shefs and deliver your 100% while looking to establish your career as sous chef in the field of culinary arts.

 

Sous Chef Job Description &Responsibilities
To establish their career successfully, the sous chef should have expertise in all the activities of a kitchen. The chef should be aware of the different styles of cooking and food preparation. Knowing alone is not enough. The sous chef should also be quite active and innovative to perform his job in a jiffy. Whether it is French cooking, Italian cooking or Fusion cooking, a sous chef job needs them to know all these cooking styles. Not only food preparation and cooking, but the sous chef is also responsible for doing a number of other administrative and managerial tasks while doing their job in restaurants, hotels or other establishments having professional kitchen.

 

An important part of the job of a sous chef is to guide and supervise the kitchen staff. The chef has the authority to provide supervision to the kitchen staff. While doing this, the chefs might need to resolve some personal conflicts that may arise between the kitch staff. So the sous chef, apart from having culinary skills, should also be a good supervisor, a team player and motivator.

 

Administrative and managerial job responsibilities require the sous chef to assist the executive chef. As an assistant to the executive chef, the sous chef helps them in activities like menu planning, food supply control, cost control, inventory, safety control and sanitation issues in the kitchen among others. Creativity plays an important role landing high paying jobs, sustaining the job as well making a successful career as a sous chef. The sous chef career success depends on how smartly and instantly they can make decisions in the kitchen, as they will be on their toes for long hours.

 

Education : How to Become a Sous Chef
Kitchen experience is a prerequisite to becoming a sous chef. Dis washing can also be a part of this kitchen experience. Whatever task you perform in the kitchen, no matter what it is, it brings you closer to the job position and career of sous chef. It may even take a couple of years before you actually become a sous chef in a professional kitchen. It is always a good idea to develop and maintain good relationship with a senior chef to gain the experience and learn the skills without any hassle.

 

Candidates who aspire to become a sous chef and establish a successful culinary career need to be equipped with a degree from a culinary arts school. Education has an important role to play in a cooking career. There are numerous culinary colleges and institutions across the nation offering degree programs and training in culinary arts. Before you apply at these schools, make sure they are accredited and also check out the job placement rate at the particular culinary school. The course duration for the culinary course can be as little as two years.

 

How Much Does A Sous Chef Earn?
Salary and earning of a sous chef depends on the type of establishment they join and the skills they have. The salary may also vary depending on the state in which you are applying for the job. On an average, a sous chef can earn a salary ranging between $25,000 and $50,000 annually. Earning opportunities will be bigger for those who bring with them years of kitchen working experience. During your growth period in a job, you will also come to know of your strength areas which you can later capitalize on and establish a great profitable culinary career.

 

** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

The job of an executive chefs or head cooks includes coordinating the kitchen work and managing a team of 10 or more kitchen staff. Very often, the executive chef is required to handle the management work of more than one kitchen. Core responsibilities of these chefs include directing meal preparation, deciding and planning the menu, controlling food supplies, keeping accounts and supervising other kitchen operations to ensure superior quality of work and meal preparation. While they oversee the operations in the kitchen of a restaurant or a hotel, they are also responsible for assigning tasks to the kitchen workers. All the kitchen work needs to be done within the budget limit that the executive chef has been provided with.

 

Job Description & Responsibilities
The day of an executive chef or a head chef starts with menu planning, which requires a lot of culinary and innovative skills. The chef plans the menu keeping in mind the budgetary considerations of the hotel or restaurant they work for. An executive chef's career happens to be highly demanding, as they do not only incorporate creative culinary skills but also take care of the administrative and managerial tasks. Since they are responsible for handling the food supply, they also need to develop good relationship with food vendors. The executive chef's job also needs them to keep abreast of the latest trends in food, so as to regularly provide appealing menu to customers and increase the client base.

 

First of all, the executive chef's job is to decide the dishes and the menu. Next, they order food supplies and equipments required. Now, the executive chef's job is to assign relevant tasks to the kitchen staff. Food preparation workers in the kitchen perform tasks including slicing poultry, washing and chopping vegetables among others. It is the executive chef that decides whether some food needs to be stored in advance, depending upon the specific requirements of the kitchen and the customers. A customer's menu order is referred to as a ‘ticket'. The executive chef's job, therefore, is to make sure that superior quality control is maintained while the kitchen staff prepares the tickets.

 

Responsibilities of executive chefs may vary a little depending on where they work. Work places can include business establishments, institutions, hospitals, cafeterias, restaurants etc. Though all the kitchen operations are performed under the supervision of the executive chef, it is the chef de cuisines who is accountable to report of these tasks to the executive chef or the head chef. If the executive chef is absent, the sous chef has the responsibilities of making sure that kitchen operations run smoothly and that there are no interruptions or hassles.

 

Education Requirements
A strong passion for cooking is a prerequisite to becoming an executive chef. Many years of training and culinary expertise can pave the way for candidates to become an executive chef or a head chef. An executive chef should carry many years of working experience in different areas of the kitchen. In terms of education, the candidates need to be equipped with a 4-year degree program. Apprenticeship and internships are essential to gain some real world experience and establish once career as an executive chef. Candidates interested in becoming executive chefs can also go for culinary training and job placement programs, offered by various restaurants and hotels.

 

Job Outlook & Salary
Excellent job opportunities await those who aspire to become executive chefs. The food industry has shown a tremendous growth from $379 billion (2007) to $558.3 billion (2008). The employment growth rate for executive chefs is expected to grow at 8% annually through to the year 2016. The national median annual salary of executive chefs is $58,104. Executive chefs can look forward to getting even higher salary as they grow in their skill and experience.

You are blessed with a keen palate. Most of your leisure time, you are in the kitchen and are serious about cooking. But, do you exactly know whether you should enroll in a cooking program? You might have a habit of getting the latest issues of food and cooking magazines. You may also like to read about many of the celebrated chefs and cooks around the world. Even when you have all of this happening to you, it is very essential to know if you are actually ready to enroll yourself in a cooking program. Before considering a career in culinary arts, first and foremost you should of course be passionate about cooking. However, there are a number of other questions that you need to ask yourself to find out whether you are ready to get enrolled in a cooking program. Given below are some important signs that will help you take that much needed leap into the field of cooking and establish you career. Check out the signs and if you fit in with these criteria, you are obviously ready for a cooking career.

 

You love experimenting in kitchen
You are a tinkerer. That means you spend most of your leisure time in the kitchen. You do not just have a sharp palate but if you are also serious about experimenting with new dishes. Besides being a foodie, you also need to have a keen interest in the field of cooking or culinary art career . If you find yourself interested in adding that personalized touch to a meal and discovering new recipes, you are ready to kick start a career in cooking. Getting enrolled in a cooking program is, therefore, the first step that you should take to start your career.

 

You are physically strong and can stand kitchen heat
On the face of it, the job of a chef or a cook may look very sophisticated. You need to be physically strong to spend long hours working on your toes. As a cook or a chef, you will be preparing meals as well as taking care of the new orders that keep arriving. You should be ready to stand the kitchen heat and give your best even under a lot of pressure. Expectations are very high when you are working in the kitchen and preparing dishes. If you do not get frustrated, you should head straight and get enrolled in a cooking program or a training program in culinary art.

 

You are ready to do management tasks
Innovativeness is a prerequisite to becoming a chef. You will be making use of all your creative skills and expertise to deliver your best. However, there are some other tasks that you would require to do while paving path for a successful career as chef. Interest in the management aspect of your job is also very important. As a chef, you may also be required to look after things like budget management, food supply control, negotiation with suppliers etc. By doing all these managerial tasks, you will acquire more expertise in your field, helping yourself in the advancement of your career. If you are ready, a cooking training program is just the right option for you.

 

You don't mind working extra hours
Though chefs or cooks may find ways to work for regular working hours, they may also need to work at weekends, on holidays etc. If you take your cooking career seriously, you should be ready to put work at the centre of you life. Most of the high end restaurant and five star hotels have chefs working in the evening and till midnight. If you don't mind pushing your limits, a cooking program is all you need to start your career in cooking.

 

You realize that a cooking program is just a stepping stone to a cooking career
Just a serious cooking habit and a degree in culinary art or cooking program won't make you a chef all of a sudden. Utmost dedication, patience and hard work are key to reach the position of a top level chef. There is no short cut to fame as a cook or chef. If you agree with this and are ready to work hard, getting enrolled in a cooking program is just the right step that you need to take to make your career in cooking.

** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

Though the dessert is served at the end of a meal, it is also the most important part. You must have had a wide range of desserts. But have you ever thought whose innovative skills go in the making of breads, chocolates, pies, cookies, ice cream etc. The food service industry has a growing demand for chefs and cooks. A pastry chef (Patissier in French) is one of those careers that have always been required by the food industry. Today, candidates have the benefit of selecting from a multitude of accredited culinary or cooking schools where they can get trained to become a pastry chef or Patissier. The career of a pastry chef is both quite fulfilling and rewarding at the same time. The best part is you will never get bored while working as a pastry chef in a hotel chain, high end restaurant or a luxury resort.

 

A professional kitchen in a high end restaurant or hotel, there is a whole team dedicated to the pastry department, known as the classic brigade de cuisine. The pastry chef is a part of this brigade and holds the position of the station chef in the pastry department. In charge of the dessert menu, the pastry chef is responsible for performing daily tasks including planning of menu, cost control and food supply control. The pastry department also has a number of other assistant chefs or kitchen workers to help the pastry chef with his dessert preparation task. Besides menu planning, cost reduction and supply control, the job of a pastry also requires him to innovatively develop and create new recipes. The chef is responsible for research, testing and applying new concepts using their working skill and expertise.

 

It is very important to make well informed decisions when candidates aspire to become a pastry chef or patissier. To excel in your chef career, you should have a strong inclination towards cooking or the field of culinary art. While you join a degree program or a course, you get trained in the art of baking or pastry making. Planning and preparation are the core areas that you will be focusing on while being trained to become a pastry chef. After you have planned the recipe of the dessert and prepared it using all your cooking skills, it's time to make it look attractive to the eyes. Desserts need to be quite attractive so that people may order as soon as they notice them. To make desserts or the sweet dish likeable to all pastry chef has to take into account a number of things - taste, color, size, shape and the presentation.

 

Candidates, who want to know the secrets of how to become a pastry chef, must be aware of the skills that need to possess for making a great career in this field. Besides having expertise in the art of baking and dessert preparation, pastry chefs skills also include some great artwork. The chef needs to make use of his creative skills to make the desserts look good to the eyes as well. Paying attention to even the minutest details can sometimes make a lot of difference to the dish. The chef, therefore, should have a sense for minute details.

 

Becoming a pastry chef may look easy on the face of it. The career of a pastry chef, however, demands a lot of dedication, activity, innovativeness and an eagerness to excel always. Pastry chefs may be working on their toes for long hours without losing vigor or interest. Working hours will depend on the type of food establishment you join. Depending on your job or work profile, you may even need to start as early as 3 am or 4 am.

 

Culinary schools across America offer a number of degree programs, courses and training to train aspiring candidates in the field of pastry art. To kick start your career as a pastry chef you need to obtain a Baking and Pastry Certificate, an Associates Degree in Applied Science Culinary Art or a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Culinary Arts from an accredited culinary institution or cooking school. All these degree programs, training and certifications include both classroom study as well as hands-on experience in baking or pastry making. If you enroll in a course of one year duration or less like the certificate course, you will only be eligible to join at entry level position in the pastry department. A 2-year Associate's Degree in Applied Science Culinary Arts or a 4-year Bachelor of Arts degree will prepare for a successful career in the field of pastry art or baking. Entry level pastry chef positions include entry level pastry cook or helper and assistant pastry chef. A corporate executive pastry chef is a higher level and much respectable position in the culinary field.

 

** The various titles of "chef" generally apply to more advanced roles in a professional kitchen Sous Chef. Graduates of a culinary arts training program should expect to pursue entry-level opportunities and should not expect to become chefs upon graduation but are encouraged to work toward becoming a chef through the course of their career. Le Cordon Bleu does not guarantee employment or salary.

The career of a cruise line chef is one of the most rewarding in the culinary industry. Besides, traveling around the world on a ship, the chef also earns a high monthly income. The chef on a cruise chef has benefits like cruise lines cover room, medical care and board. Most of the cruise line chefs serve passengers round the clock. To become a chef on a cruise ship, candidates require special training and board experience along with a keen interest in the field of culinary art. Candidates can decide to take up a culinary career at sea as an executive chef, a sous chef or a chef de partie. The number of passengers on a ship may vary from as little as 500 to as many as 3,000. Therefore, each cruise is equipped with a fully staffed kitchen to serve food to its passengers 24/7. Employers hire chefs that have a previous working experience of around 3-5 years at a hotel, luxury resort or restaurant.

To become a chef on a cruise ship, candidates should possess a graduate degree acquired from an accredited culinary or cooking school. After completion of their culinary training program, candidates first need to obtain a few years of experience working at a hotel or a high-end restaurant. Since you will be staying on the cruise ship for days, employers are always on the lookout for professionals who have sound health. This case is similar with other shipboard personnel as well. This is due to the fact that acute illness conditions can prove to fatal while on a cruise ship. While these acute illnesses can be easily treated or controlled in an emergency room, it is not easy on a cruise ship. Therefore the chef who works on a cruise ship must be in good health. Physical and dental examinations are part of the recruitment procedure to hire cruise line chef.

Aspiring candidates can first prepare a list of all the cruise lines that they are willing to join. Find out which cruise lines are hiring chef for their cruise ships. You can check out both small and large cruise lines. Small cruise ships keep hiring chefs all the year round. Small ships include both oceangoing as well as those that sail on rivers. However, you should try to acquire a position on a large cruise ship with around 3,000 passengers on board. Candidates can then call the office of the HRD of the selected cruise lines. At times, you can also land a high paying job at small cruise lines.

Most of the huge cruise lines and large cruise lines have the employment application forms available online. You can easily send your resume online to apply for the chef position at the cruise line. It may take quite some time before you actually get a call from the cruise line. Do not resend your resume and wait patiently. Around a dozen cruise ships make up a huge cruise line whereas a large cruise line may have around six cruise ships. It is not very often that a replacement or recruitment of kitchen staff is required at large cruise lines. There are many large cruise lines that have set up their own food service company to operate on their ships. Positions may be vacant in case the ship is headed to a port for refitting or due to the chef’s illness. It may also happen that you get a call from the cruise line HRD or its food service company after weeks or months of applying as and when requirement arises.

Small ship cruise lines also offer plenty of opportunities to become a cruise line chef or a chef on a cruise ship. Candidates can easily send their updated resume to the cruise line. Some of the smaller cruise ship lines also function as tour operators. Opportunities may arise where you can land a cruise line chef job at a higher monthly income than you would earn at a large cruise line. So, candidates should be ready to grab such opportunities.

Depending on their skill set, experience and the strength of their application, you may be called for an interview. Make use of your culinary and cooking capabilities and training to make an impression on the interviewer. As mentioned above, a medical examination is mandatory to obtain most of the cruise line jobs. Besides the financial rewards that the career of a chef on a cruise ship brings you, you also have the opportunity of experiencing the very unforgettable while on a cruise ship. The monthly earning of a cruise line chef may range between $2,000 and $5,000 depending on their skill and experience.