| Without doubt, cooking is much more than preparing | | | | Catering Chef |
| great food. Today, cooking is a true art form, a | | | | Another possibility is learning to be a catering chef. |
| career that requires formal education to learn how to | | | | Many schools offer special culinary programs that |
| create dishes, make dishes, and design dishes for | | | | focus on this career, which includes training for |
| presentation. If you love working with food and are | | | | serving hundreds of guests opposed to a table of |
| eager start a fulfilling and successful career in the | | | | five. Obviously, catering presents unique challenges |
| food industry, it is imperative that you choose a | | | | that a standard head chef might not face so |
| reputable school or college that offers the most | | | | completing proper education would teach you how to |
| comprehensive culinary programs available. | | | | eliminate problems but also prepare you to handle |
| If your goal were to become a great chef, you | | | | obstacles when they arise. |
| would need to complete specialized programs in | | | | Restaurant Managers |
| culinary management. After all, being a chef has to | | | | One need within the food industry that continues to |
| do with more than creating masterpiece dishes. For | | | | grow is for quality restaurant managers. Years ago, |
| instance, chefs often order food, set, and maintain | | | | managers simply oversaw restaurant operations, |
| food budgets, oversee kitchen staff, provide training, | | | | meaning they had no real knowledge of being a chef. |
| design, and create menus, etc. For this reason, | | | | However, to become an effective restaurant |
| culinary programs are designed to give you the skills | | | | manager for a high-end establishment, you would |
| needed for each of the facets of being a chef. | | | | need a two-year associate's degree. |
| After going through the required culinary programs, | | | | Some of the areas of education covered include |
| you would walk away with an earned certificate or | | | | budgeting, kitchen and wait staff supervision, order |
| degree, depending on the school attended and the | | | | taking, and chef work. Although your dishes might |
| type of career pursuing. Again, working as a head | | | | not be to the same caliber as the actual chef, as a |
| chef for a major restaurant, high-end hotel, or luxury | | | | restaurant manager, you would need to know how |
| resort would require a degree in culinary arts. This | | | | to make each menu item should the chef not show |
| degree would be earned based on classroom | | | | up for work. After all, you could not leave your |
| education but also hands-on training so upon | | | | guests waiting to experience a positive dining |
| graduation, you could go directly to work. | | | | experience. |
| Some of the career opportunities that a certificate or | | | | Sommeliers |
| degree in culinary arts would provide include the | | | | Culinary programs also include education to become a |
| following. | | | | Sommelier, which is someone trained and highly |
| Baking/Pastry Chef | | | | knowledgeable in wine and spirits. This specialized |
| The dessert at the end of a fabulous meal is usually | | | | training includes service, procurement, storage, wine |
| the part of the dining experience most people | | | | rotation, and wine characteristics. Programs to |
| anticipate. As a trained baking/pastry chef, you would | | | | become a Sommelier take from nine months to two |
| have the ability to create amazing pastry desserts | | | | years, depending on the level of education and the |
| for guests to enjoy. Since this is a specialized career | | | | educational institution. |
| path, choosing the right school would be imperative. | | | | |