How to Become a Chef

The title 'chef' has its roots in the concept of haute cuisine that originated in the 19th century, from the different methods of cooking carried out in grand hotels and restaurants in the western world. Most commonly described as "a person who takes a professional approach at cooking", it is derived from the Latin word caput. To become a chef, one needs to undergo formal training and should have relevant experience working in a kitchen. The profession of a chef is far different from what is portrayed today. Only few of the topmost chefs enjoy a glamorous life, and that too comes with a lot of hard work.

How to Become a Chef
To be successful in any profession, hard work and passion is necessary. These qualities act as a driving force in propelling one towards the goals set. Becoming a chef who is not only famous, but also keen about his work, is an importance thing in the long run. Chefs cannot just complete their day's work and leave for the day. In fact, they have to work round the clock, and be alert to face the various kinds of problems that crop up almost everyday in the kitchen. For an executive chef, the daily schedule is even more hectic. He has to look after the areas of cooking such as kitchen management, menu planning, scheduling, food ordering, and even staff training. Owing to the growth in the hotel business, there is also a wide scope to have specialist chefs such as the Patissier (pastry chef), Entremetier (one who looks after soups, starches, vegetables), Rotisseur (in charge of cooking roasted food) and many more.

Formal Education
The professional course to become a chef could be a vocational course, a one-year diploma, or a four-year degree. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) is one of the few reputed colleges that offers formal education for becoming a chef. One of the many advantages of studying in this institute is the 1300 kitchen hours that are completed during the course. In a culinary school, one gets to learn about cooking theory, food cost control, menu planning, storage, purchasing and sanitation, & public health laws.

Experience
No matter which culinary school one graduates from, to become a successful chef, one needs a lot of hands on experience relevant to the job. Apprenticeships help a freshman to gain the experience needed to enter the hotel industry. Apprenticeships offer stipends that might be meager from the point of view of a degree holder, however, the experience obtained from these short stints help a lot in the long run. The culinary arts that one possesses are sharpened during the apprenticeship. One can go through the profiles of famous chefs in order to gain an idea about the professional world of chefs.

Certified Master Chef
Certified Master Chef, a certification by the American Culinary Federation, is the highest level of certification in the US. One should have experience as an executive head chef in order to become a Certified Master Chef. Candidates opting for this certification have to pass a test that continues for 8 days. The fee charged for this examination is USD 3,300. One can also get certified as a Master Pastry Chef. A Master Pastry Chef is an expert in the field of dessert preparation.

Finally, one should aim not just to rise in terms of hierarchy, but also to enjoy his job as a chef. One should constantly keep learning in this profession, and find new ways to become a good chef.