WHAT SKILLS DO YOU NEED TO A CHEF?

Author :chef ssentongo Geoffrey

Choosing to start a career as a chef is something anyone can do at any time in their life.

With the hospitality industry continuing to grow year on year, there remains a high demand for skilled chefs and the requirements for you to get started may not be as tough as you anticipated.

Nowadays there so many different dining experiences available, from fine dining experiences, high street restaurants, to grab and go eateries, covering all sorts of traditional and fusion cuisines. Becoming a chef opens up many diverse paths, you aren’t limited to one cuisine type or establishment.

This means you can be master of your own career direction, something which appeals to many budding chefs!

What Are the Requirements to Become a Chef?

Anyone can become a chef, but if you are just starting out you must get some Experience of working in a kitchen to put on your cv, or qualification.

The good news is, there are lots of ways you can do this:

* Work —Many establishment’s are willing to take on school leavers. You would start your training path as kitchen assistant or trainee and work your way up the kitchen hierarchy.

* Apprenticeship —you can also work and learn at the same time. An apprenticeship will usually begin at an intermediate or advanced level. You will need to have some GCSEs to gain an apprenticeship.

* Culinary School —There are numerous schools you can attend to gain a qualification. Culinary school will teach cooking techniques from masters, aften whilst using the latest, high-tech equipment and methods.

Having a good understanding of kitchen safety, food hygiene and awareness of allergies and their importance in the kitchen would also be beneficial.

Top 10 Skills Needed to Become a Chef

No doubt, you need to be able to cook, but being a chef is more than putting food on a plate. You also need to develop and master some key skills.

1. Willingness to Learn

Become a chef can be a hands-on learning experience, and like they say, practice does make perfect. You must master flavours and tech of different dishes which can take time and a lot of energy.

2. Genuine Passion

The life of a chef is demanding as the busiest working days are often those when other people are out celebrating – Christmas, valentine’s Day or mothering Sunday to name a few.

3. Organisation

We know that kitchens can be a very busy environment to work it, and so it is essential that you have the ability to always work clean and tidy. Stay organised to stay in control, as you progress in your career.

4. Ability to Skilfully Multitask

There can be many elements of food on one plate to make up a complete dish. Now think, that plate belongs on a table with three other mains, plus sides. If that table had starters as well, that’s possibly four other previous dishes that need factoring in to how and when this one dish comes together.

5. Creativity

Becoming a chef involves more than just following a recipe. A chef will be creative in terms of putting a menu together, how the dish looks on the plate, and how it tastes to the customers. They will also be creative in planning how the kitchen works.

6. Time Management

The sixth skill comes from the chef, who has over fifteen years experience as a classically trained chef before setting up his own business in commercial kitchen design.

7. Teamwork

The professional kitchen can be a melting pot of people, with many people from different backgrounds coming together through a shared love of cooking.

8. Leadership Skills

As well as being a team player, experienced chefs should know how to lead the team, and get the best out of them. The head chef has the responsibility for the kitchen, and so they have to be able to give direction and have it followed immediately.

9. Resilience

Chefs will frequently receive feedback from other chefs, colleagues and customers on the food they produce, and not all of the feedback will be positive. You need to be able to handle criticism, look at it honestly and decide whether or not it is valid.

10. Stamina

This skill might surprise you but chefs need to have an excellent level of physical and mental fitness. Working in a kitchen can be very physically demanding working long shifts on your feet in hot temperatures and without many breaks is tough. On top of that, the mental energy required to cope with the pressure and be on top of your section and your game, your section and your kitchen, can be huge.

Remember skills like these can take a lifetime to perfect so don’t worry if this list doesn’t sound like you… Yet! Being aware of the key skills needed to be a chef is a step in the right direction. This list, and advise from our chef friends, should give you food for thought when considering your own feelings and actions in the kitchen.