I would like to become a Chef when i am older, but there is no school/collages that i can find near West Valley City Utah. Everyone that i cook for say that i am a great cook, but i wana get even better and have it as a job.
Thank you a bunch!
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Betty - said
October 15 2010 @ 00:10
Here is a link:
http://www.slcc.edu/culinaryarts/index.asp
Make sure that whatever culinary school you decide on is accredited by the ACF (American Culinary Federation). The ACF only accredits the best schools. The program at Salt Lake Community college is ACF accredited (and it looks likes it doesn’t cost much, which is a big plus).
However, I suggest you work in a restaurant before attending culinary school. A lot of people in this industry hate their jobs. It would be a good idea to find out if you like this type of work before you waste a bunch of money on a culinary education.
Cooking for a living is a lot different than cooking at home. In a busy restaurant, you’ll be cooking for 500 -1000 customers, per shift. It is a very fast-paced and stressful environment and it takes more than cooking skills to be good at it. You have to be quick and you have to work clean. You also have to have the ability to multi-task under pressure and the ability to get along with others.
Just so you realize, no one is going to hire you as a chef right out of school. You have to work your way up. Chefs are managers; they run the restaurant. You’ll need at least 5 years of line cooking experience plus a culinary degree in order to gain enough experience to land chef jobs. Line cooks don’t make much over minimum wage.
Being a chef is not like what you see on TV. This is not a glamorous job. Chefs work 50 -80 hours per week, on their feet and sometimes without breaks. You’ll be working nights, weekends and holidays. If you plan on having a family, good luck trying to find time to spend with them.
Chefs need business skills in addition to cooking skills. I know a lot of chefs that hardly get to cook. Most of their time is spent in the office doing paper work.
It also helpful to get a bachelors degree in business or a bachelors degree in hospitality management in addition to a culinary degree. An MBA wouldn’t hurt either. People with MBA’s in this industry make big $$. The good paying chef jobs are hard to find…. and the good jobs that are out there only hire the best people.
Entry level positions are easy to find. Try to find a job as a dishwasher or prep cook. If you like it, then sign up for culinary school.
Good luck!