Chef also known as Designer Chef is one of the highly skilled and innovative professionals in the hospitality industry. Their skills are to simultaneously please and temp the tongue stomach and eye i.e., virtually all the sense organs of the human beings in one go.
Prospects of a chef are very good in today’s global village. There is lots of option to travel overseas and earn money in terms of foreign currency. But all this is not as simple as it seems to be. In terms of qualities, this industry calls for lots of commitment and passion, besides a lot of creativity.
As a chef one has to work for long hours and be prepared for hard work because it is a full-time job and required a hundred percent commitment. To survive in this industry the main attribute required from the aspirants are that they should have a well-developed sense of taste and smell which allows them to explore bold new flavor combinations and make them work. The ability to experiment and be creative is another essential that will enable you to leave your mark on the dishes you create.
To discharge his duties with utmost efficiency a designer chef should have the requisite basic knowledge concerned with this field. For this, there are specific short-term and long-term courses available that one has to undergo.
Chef Eligibility
The minimum educational qualification for becoming a Chef is a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management from a recognized college/university.
Chef Required Skills
- Apart from having culinary skills, executive chefs must have good communication skills, time management skills, leadership skills, and basic accounting skills in order to run a kitchen successfully.
- They must be able to perform physically demanding tasks involving long hours of standing.
- They possess a keen interest in food and cooking; strong communication and leadership skills; the ability to work under pressure.
- They should have high standards of cleanliness and hygiene; the ability to do several tasks at once; creativity and imagination for food presentation and the ability to work as part of a team.
How to Become a Chef?
To become a designer Chef one has to undergo the following Courses-
1. Three Year Hotel Management Degree Specializing in Food and Beverages
Eligibility
1. Educational Qualification
The eligibility for admission to an above course at the undergraduate level is a higher secondary examination pass irrespective of the stream and the percentage of marks obtained.
Step 1
Interested candidate has to appear in an entrance test conducted by Ministry of Tourism-run institutions across India or opt for a good private organization or international institution.
These exams are usually held in the month of May or June and consist of Objective type questions based on the relevant subjects. The results of these exams are generally out by June/July
However, some colleges also give admission on the basis of % of marks obtained in the qualifying examination
Step 2
After completing this 3-4 years of hotel management degree specializing in Food Beverages it is good to work in a restaurant in a non-cooking position. After the course, one can opt. for some job in the hotel industry or can go for an appropriate business course if he has plans of starting his own restaurant someday.
List of Some Institutes providing Courses Related to this profession.
- National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Noida---www.nchmct.org
- IGNOU, New Delhi---www.ignou.ac.in
- LBIIHM, New Delhi---www.lbiihm.com
- Sunderdeep Group of Institutions, Ghaziabad---www.sunderdeep.ac.in
- APJ Shimla University, Shimla---www.apg.edu.in
- Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Department of Tourism and Hotel Management---www.kuk.ac.in
Chef Job Description and Career Prospects
Chef's job description includes planning, organizing, and coordinating his team along with the routine work of making delicious dishes with his knowledge, imagination, and creative skills. He is also supposed to do some management duties while climbing up the ladder in this field. Thus Enormous employment opportunities are available in this field
Chef Salary Prospects
A well-trained Chef with little experience can expect to get Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 18,000 as the starting salary. However if one decides to join some overseas restaurants he can get anywhere near Rs. 2,50,000 to Rs. 3,00,000 per year depending upon the organization and the country one goes to.
After gaining some job experience one can start his own business and can earn as much as one wants. It all depends upon the individual’s capabilities and managerial, entrepreneurial, and creative skills.
