You may be one of those candidates that dream to take up a culinary career yet are not ready to stand the heat of the kitchen. They would love a culinary career which involves no cooking. Well, options remain such candidates as well. The field of culinary arts provides space to even those who like to avoid cooking and the kitchen heat. So if you thought, chef or cook was the only career option in the field of food service industry, you need to think again. Cooking alone can not limit the career opportunities that the field of culinary art provides to candidates.The restaurant and the hospitality industry have a continuous demand for professionals like sommeliers, marketers, restaurant managers, even managers or event planners etc. So, candidates who are not ready to handle the kitchen heat can easily make a choice from among these culinary careers without cooking and earn a profitable income too.In fact, you can establish you career in the food service industry even when you have no idea how to fry and egg. Isn’t that exciting? Aspiring candidates and students can attend one of the many professional culinary schools across America. However, candidates should make sure that the academic institutions or culinary schools they select are well reputed and have the necessary accreditations.

If you are looking for culinary careers with no cooking involved, you can choose to become :

Sommelier Pronounced saw-muh-lyey, the position of a sommelier is considered to be one of the most significant in dining establishments. In fact, the sommelier may immensely contribute towards the success of the food or dining establishments they work for. The core duty of a sommelier includes selection of wines and spirits that should feature in the establishment’s list of wines. These professionals possess extensive knowledge about a variety of wines and their preparation. They have the capability of counseling patrons on which wine would pair well with a specific meal. The success of a sommelier’s career depends on his expertise about wines, their counseling skills, love for a variety of wines and of course a sharp palate.

Restaurant Manager The second wonderful option to make a culinary career with no cooking involved is joining as a restaurant manager. The culinary profession of a restaurant manager, however, can be quite demanding. These professionals have the responsibility of setting a culinary tone for the food service establishment they work for. Everyday task of a restaurant manager includes staff supervision and training, new recipe development and customer service as well as marketing and promotion work. Expert managerial skills and a keen love for food are the prerequisites to establishing your culinary career as a restaurant manager. The basic managerial skills that you acquire in other industries remain the same in the food service industry as well.

Pastry Chef Though the work of a pastry chef requires him to be around ovens, they have a really sweet job to perform. Besides the preparation of a variety of desserts, a pastry chef also helps in the menu planning of the hotel or restaurant they work for. In addition, pastry chefs are called to wedding ceremonies and other celebratory occasion for preparing desserts. It will not be wrong to call pastry chefs the real artists, as they need to focus on the visual appeal of the dessert as much as they do on its taste.

Gourmet Store Shopper/ Manager Besides considering a career in restaurants or hotels, you can also decide to join a gourmet shop. Candidates can find a number of popular gourmet and organic chains across the country. There is a growing demand in the food industry for professionals who can figure out the actual food requirements of people. A degree from a culinary school can train you well in this culinary field. Equipped with relevant skills and academic background, candidates can take up jobs as gourmet store shopper or buyer or gourmet store manager at gourmet shops. Becoming a buyer for one of the leading gourmet shops or organic chains in the country can prove to be an exciting career option for candidates.

So, exciting career opportunities await even those candidates who aspire for culinary careers which does not involve cooking. All you need to do is be advised and well informed about the culinary school you should attend and the training program you should select.

The more career opportunities culinary industry offers, the more work challenges it sets forth. A profitable career option in the culinary field is to become a restaurant manager. Anyone who manages the floor, the kitchen or the administration is referred to as a restaurant manager. The difference in the roles of restaurant managers actually depends on whether they are working for local family-run restaurant or a high-end restaurant. While visiting small restaurants, you must have noticed that restaurant owners also look after the overall business operation. They are also restaurant managers. Large restaurants have definitive roles for restaurant managers. In large or high-end restaurants, restaurant manager (also called general managers) take care of the administrative division whereas the executive chef is responsible for kitchen management.

While the executive chef takes care of the food preparation in kitchen, the restaurant manager directs the rest of the staff and supervises their work. During this administrative career, the restaurant manager is responsible for smooth functioning of the whole operation and handling the business end, thereby bringing profit to the restaurant. Looking at the job responsibilities that the restaurant manager is required to perform, they must possess a thorough understanding of budgeting, accounting, banking methods and credit policies.

It is only a skilled restaurant manager who knows how to motivate the staff to always work for the better. Whether it is the service standard or the safety guidelines, the general manager ensures that the restaurant staff strictly abides by them. Not only professionally, but the responsibilities of a restaurant manager also include seeing to the well being of staff and providing them job satisfaction. Recruitment of new kitchen staff, maintenance of kitchen equipment, budgeting, work scheduling and surveying are the other responsibilities that these professionals have to shoulder during their career as restaurant manager or general manager in a large kitchen.

Educational Background
A high school diploma is the minimum educational requirement to apply for the post of a restaurant manager. A number of junior colleges and universities in the United States offer associate degrees, bachelor degrees and other graduate programs in restaurant management. Career opportunities become more fruitful for candidates who have both college education as well as some previous work experience in business administration. Besides earning a degree in restaurant management, candidates can also opt for various courses in hotel and restaurant administration. The restaurant manager must have strong communication skills, team playing spirit and motivating potential.

To kick-start their career, candidates can also enroll themselves in restaurant manager trainee programs. Restaurant managers can join as prospective managers too. These positions may include account manager, food and beverage manager and sales manager among. After spending a couple of years in these fields, professionals can finally become general managers.

Career Outlook
Though candidates may need to face tough competition, job opportunities are greater and the employment growth rate is expected to grow as fast as average through 2014. Candidates can easily land a job at small restaurants first. Later with a few years of experience, you can apply at large or high-end restaurants. Those who join leading restaurant chain can be promoted to the position of regional manager or executive manager. The job of a restaurant manager does not only require physical effort, but it gives you mental pressures as well.

Most of the time restaurant managers will be on their feet, attending to customers and dealing with employees. While dealing with customers, patience is the key requirement with restaurant managers or general managers. Working hours of a restaurant manager may vary between 40 and 48 hours a week. Restaurant managers should also be ready to work on weekends and at nights, depending on the type and chain of restaurant they join.

Earning from Your Career as Restaurant Manager
The salary you get will depend on the type of restaurant you join and responsibilities you are assigned. Metropolitan cities offer better restaurant manager career opportunities, both in terms of professional and personal growth. Average annual salary of a restaurant manager can be around $42,000. Restaurant managers also receive yearly bonuses. Those employed in leading restaurant chains will be entitled to some exclusive benefits like paid vacations, retirement benefits and health insurances among others.