Find the Right Culinary Arts School!
The culinary industry has never been more competitive than it is these days. Whenever there is an opening in the kitchen of a highly ranked restaurant, they are always deluged by applications of chefs wanting to move up to a more prestigious restaurant. This will help them move their career forward, not to mention pay them very well. You may have thought about becoming a chef in the past, but you never took any serious action to realize your dream. There is no question that becoming a professional chef, like the legendary Tim Love, has a large amount of benefits. So what is the process of becoming a chef? Here is what you will need to do.
1. Choose a school for the culinary arts
Before people go to college, they look at many different schools to see which ones are the best fit for them. The same thing should apply to you as you are trying to decide which culinary arts school to attend. You should start by visiting several schools in person when they have an open house for prospective students. You will be able to talk to the members of the faculty who will be your teachers if you go to that school. Just as important, you will be able to get a close look at the kitchen facilities at the school. Ideally, you want to attend a school that has modern equipment, not stuff that looks like Fred Flintstone cooked his meals on it.
2. Apply to schools
Once you have decided which schools you are interested in, you will need to send in your application. Some culinary arts schools are very selective about the students they accept. Therefore, you may not get into the school that is your first choice.
3. Apprenticeship / Get a job
After you graduate, you should try to become the apprentice of a chef who is already very accomplished. You will learn the ropes from him or her, allowing this person’s many years of experience to rub off on you. The better you score on your tests in school, the better apprenticeship you will be able to get. If you are able to become the apprentice of a chef at a well respected restaurant, this could open doors that allow you to get a great job. You will be paid during your apprenticeship, but your goal is to get a high paying job after you are finished being an apprentice.
