How to become a Chef?– Some individuals have a passion for cooking and turn their hobby into a career by becoming professional cooks, commonly known as chefs. Chefs are responsible for creating menus and overseeing all aspects of food preparation in various establishments like hotels, restaurants, clubs, and bakery kitchens. They play a pivotal role in the success of the food industry, elevating it to a higher level through their culinary expertise and teamwork.
Who is a Chef?
A chef is a skilled culinary expert who manages a large kitchen and showcases their culinary artistry. Mere cooking skills are insufficient; candidates must possess creativity and various cooking abilities. The head chef, often referred to as the master chef, is in charge of the kitchen and handles kitchen-related issues. Within the kitchen, there are various chef roles, including the master chef, sous chef, chef de partie, and commis chef, each with distinct responsibilities.
Eligibility to Become a Chef
To pursue a career as a chef, individuals need to focus on several aspects, including hygiene, nutrition, culinary culture, and more. They should also complete courses related to culinary arts. The following eligibility criteria are essential:
- Candidates should complete their 10+2 education with a minimum of 60% marks from an accredited institution.
- Aspiring chefs can opt for a Bachelor’s degree or a Diploma in Hotel Management to enhance their career prospects.
- Earning a chef’s certificate is a crucial step, as it serves as an entry point into hotels, restaurants, and other food-related organizations.
Types of Chef
The field of culinary arts offers various career opportunities. In today’s modern era, chefs are in high demand across hotels, restaurants, and other food-related industries. Some of the prominent job profiles include:
- Executive Chef: Typically found in large organizations, the executive chef holds the highest position in the culinary hierarchy, regarded as an honorable post.
- Head Chef: Known as Chef de Cuisine in French, head chefs are the primary chefs in restaurants and may also be referred to as master chefs or chef managers.
- Sous Chef: The second-in-command after the executive chef, sous chefs are responsible for food preparation, staff training, adhering to safety standards, and staff scheduling.
- Chef de Partie: This role encompasses various responsibilities within the kitchen, including butcher chef, fish chef, fry chef, pantry chef, grill chef, roundsman, roast chef, sauté chef, and vegetable chef.
- Commis Chef: Commis chefs are recent culinary graduates who work under the chef de partie. They learn various kitchen duties and operations under the supervision of the head chef.
Institutes that Offer Degree to Become Chef
Several institutes offer hotel management courses that provide excellent placement opportunities for students. Here are some of the top colleges in India:
- Oberoi Centre for Learning & Development, New Delhi
- Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Nutrition (IHM), Pusa, New Delhi
- Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition (IHM), Mumbai
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), Manipal
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Aurangabad
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bangalore
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Kolkata
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Ahmedabad
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Chennai
- Christ University, Bangalore
Chef Course Fee
The fee structure for hotel management courses varies across institutes. Here are examples of fee ranges for some institutes:
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Bangalore: Rs. 31.91K – Rs. 41K
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Hyderabad: Rs. 80K – Rs. 3.75L
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Delhi: Rs. 38K – Rs. 53K
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Mumbai: Rs. 30K – Rs. 60K
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Kolkata: Rs. 60.51K
- Vedatya Institute, Gurgaon: Rs. 79K – Rs. 9L
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh: Rs. 5.74K
- Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Jaipur: Rs. 42K – Rs. 95.12K
Future Aspects After Becoming a Chef
There are numerous employment opportunities in the culinary field, including positions in hotels, airlines, entrepreneurship, cruise liners, food manufacturing, corporate catering, confectioneries, restaurants, and food processing companies.
Top Recruiting Companies
After completing a hotel management course, candidates can explore job opportunities in various companies. Some of the prime recruiting companies include:
- Taj Group
- Vivanta by Taj
- ITC Hotels
- Oberoi Sheraton
- DABS India
- Career Chef India Pvt. Ltd.
Chef Salary
Salaries in the culinary field vary based on experience and job title. Here are average base salaries for various chef positions:
- Corporate Chef: Rs. 72K per month
- Head Chef: Rs. 61K per month
- Assistant Sous Chef: Rs. 27K per month
- Corporate Executive Chef: Rs. 1.011K per month
Skills Required to Become a Chef
To excel in the culinary industry, individuals should possess specific skills, including:
- Passion for the profession
- Eagerness to learn
- Organizational skills
- Multitasking abilities
- Creativity
- Time management
- Leadership skills
- Stability under pressure
- Teamwork
- Stamina
- Artistic flair
Chef: Responsibilities
Chefs have various responsibilities, including:
- Ensuring the availability of necessary cooking utensils
- Preparing food in a hygienic manner
- Maintaining food and kitchen hygiene
- Experimenting with new dishes and adding them to the menu
- Supervising food preparation and customer service
- Providing guidance to kitchen staff
- Checking the freshness of ingredients and removing expired items
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