The culinary arts is an exciting and diverse field that provides challenges, rewards and an abundance of creative opportunities. Culinary creatives make delicious and aesthetically appealing dishes which are innovative and imaginative, using common and new techniques, combining ingredients that work in harmony with one another. The culinary industry is known for its high-pressure work environment, it can be stressful, involve long hours and includes being on your feet for hours of the day, so it can take a toll on your body. At the same time, it is incredible rewarding, especially for people who enjoy working with their hands, thinking outside the box and using their imagination to create new and delicious dishes. Typical hours for someone in the culinary field are 40-45 hours, including shift work which could involve working evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. The starting salary for this type of job is £22,000, going up to an average of £40,000 for experienced workers.
Skills required for a chef career:
Ideal skills for someone considering a chef career include meticulous attention to detail, an ablity to work with your hands, ability to work well under pressure, strong knowledge of food production, be able to accept criticism, work well with others, good leadership skills, able to use initiative and work independently, be a strong organiser, able to organise time and workload, be competent in using computers and software packages.
Day-to-day tasks in a chef career
If you’re considering a chef career, you should familiarise yourself with the daily tasks, so you know what will be expected of you. As a chef, you’ll be expected to plan a full menu, develop your own recipes and create innovative dishes. Prepare and cook a variety of dishes, including starters and desserts. Ensure you and your staff maintain food and hygiene standards at all times. Research new ingredients and suppliers. Take control of stock inspect all deliveries you receive. Supervise kitchen staff to ensure all food is prepared to a high quality, is well presented and is served to the customer on time.
Culinary Education Paths
If you would like to join the culinary field there are a number of paths you can take. One option is to complete culinary education such as a university course or a college course. Alternatively you can complete an apprenticeship or work to secure a role.
University culinary education
One of the options available to you is to complete a university culinary education course in a subject such as the culinary arts, bakery and patisserie technology, professional cooking, or food and nutrition.
To complete one of these university degree courses you will need to have 2 or 3 A Levels, or if you are interested in a foundation degree or a higher national diploma, you’ll only need 1 or 2 A Levels.
College culinary education courses
If you don’t yet have the qualifications you need to secure a university course, you can go to college and complete a culinary education course in culinary skills, hospitality and catering, professional cookery, or a catering T Level.
To secure a place on a college course you will need to have 4 or 5 GCSE’s at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, and to complete a T Level course, this will need to include both English and Maths.
Apprenticeship
If formal education isn’t for you an alternative method you can take to secure the skills and knowledge you need for a culinary role, is by applying for an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships can take between one and two years to complete. Suitable apprenticeships for a culinary role include a Production Chef or Commis Chef Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, a Chef de Partie Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, or a Senior Culinary Chef Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.
The armed forces, such as the army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, also provides apprenticeships which will result in you becoming a trained chef.
To secure an apprenticeship you’ll usually need GCSEs (usually including English and Maths) for an Intermediate Apprenticeship, 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for an Advanced Apprenticeship, or 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent for a Higher or Degree Apprenticeship.
Work towards a culinary role
Another alternative is to learn on the job. You can do this by beginning as a kitchen assistant or a trainee commis chef in a restaurant or catering company and working your way up. If you’re not able to secure a paid role you always have the option of volunteering.
Food Safety Certification
As well as training/education, you’ll also need a food safety certification This training course lasts 1 to 2 days and is available through private training providers, colleges and local authorities.
Building a Cooking Portfolio
One of the most effective ways to impress potential employers and culinary schools is to build an impactful cooking portfolio. You can choose a digital or a physical portfolio, or both. Physical portfolios are great to distribute and share, meanwhile a digital portfolio allows you to include things like videos, as well as links to your website and social media, and it can be updated quickly and regularly. This portfolio needs to showcase your dishes, recipes and kitchen skills. Here are some tips to creating a cooking portfolio with impact:
Make sure your photographs have good lighting. It is important your photos look good and reflect the quality of your food. Natural lighting is usually the best option. It is not recommended you use a flash on your photos as this will create reflections and/or shadows. You should also use colours and textures that compliment each other, with focal points and garnishing.
When it comes to the layout of the portfolio you should make sure your text and images are aligned to reduce clutter. Make sure you effectively use the empty spaces on the pages to help to guide the readers eyes to specific areas and important points of your portfolio. Also, be sure to use a mixture of elements and colours to make your portfolio aesthetically appealing.
Be sure to include all the key elements of a cooking portfolio. You will need an about me section: this is where you can summarise your background, experience and skills including your specialties. You should include a headshot or recent picture of yourself, and you can also include your contact information and social media links. Here, you should write “references available upon request”. An education and work experience section: include details of any formal culinary education you have received, list all the certificates you have including those related to safety, allergies, and dietary needs. You should also include your work experience here, including place and dates. Any professional developments, volunteer work and externships can be included here too. An achievements and recognitions section: If you have received any awards, been featured on magazines or television, received any reviews or testimonials, and been included in any published works, you should include this here. You can include relevant photographs here. A section for food photographs: in this section include any photographs you have of dishes that you have created, accompanied with descriptions. Make sure the food looks delicate and delicious, it needs to be as tempting as possible. A section for your menus and recipes: here you can include any menus and recipes you have created, include signature dishes and brochures and be sure to showcase your creativity and knowledge in creating dishes. A section detailing your skills: in this section you need to outline your culinary skills, for example, pastry skills, skills in holistic nutrition. You can also include other relevant skills, such as managing people, budgeting, utilising technology, and anything else that is relevant to the kitchen. A final section to detail your services: describe what your ideal job is and list the services you provide.
Specialisation and Cuisine
The culinary field is rich and diverse in terms of the cuisines and dishes available. Although your education will teach you about a variety of different cuisines and introduce you to a number of techniques and recipes, it is important that you take the time to discover your specialty and cuisine, as you’ll need to include this in your cooking portfolio. Your preferred specialisation and cuisine will determine not only what type of food you prepare, but also where you will work in the future. The best way to determine this is to explore as many different cuisines and culinary styles as you can, doing this will help you to find your real passion and show you where you should dedicate yourself to in the culinary field.
Professional Development
As with all career paths, to progress in your career, you need to embrace opportunities for personal development. It is important to actively embrace continuous learning and professional development in the fast-paced culinary industry. To do this you can attend workshops, take classes to help you to master new techniques, and make an effort to stay updated with current food trends.
Becoming a specialist in the culinary field can be achieved through university or college education, apprenticeships or working to achieve the skills and knowledge, the path you choose to take will very much depend on your personal learning preferences. In order to truly succeed in a culinary career, you will need dedication, you will have to be hard working, and have a genuine love for cooking. Whatever your culinary dreams are, you can achieve them with passion and dedication.