Global cookery shows have given wings to the dreams of thousands of youngsters of running a kitchen or flipping an omelet on the television. But just like any art, culinary art needs to be learned and developed properly and systematically.
Though the culinary course does come with a price tag, it helps students develop the required skill-sets & techniques which are much needed for running one’s kitchen or working within the hotel industry. A chef is highly trained in aspects related to the preparation and presentation of food as well as kitchen and staff management.
Like any other job and skill, learning culinary arts and being a chef also has its own set of pros and cons.
Good things first:,
1) Satisfying Job: this occupation gives the freedom that most of the jobs and professionals do not enjoy. Chefs innovate and experiment with dishes, and use their creativity at their workplace to get great results.
2) Lucrative Pay Packages: if a chef is good at what he does then money has no limitation in this field. One is bound to earn a handsome package and get many other benefits once work is recognized.
3) Fame: Chefs are not only well paid but well-known as well. They get abundant opportunities to represent their countries internationally as well and become the face of many upcoming brands.
4) Entrepreneurship: It is not uncommon for chefs to open their restaurants. Many famous restaurants have been opened and are run by chefs. A culinary course is designed to advance culinary skills, entrepreneurship, and people management.
5) Reputation: Most employers seek candidates from reputed culinary schools which ensures them a high-level skill and good quality work. They are confident that people employed have the necessary traits that they seek and need minimum training and maximum performance.
The cons in culinary art vary from person to person and situation to situation, which may or may not be faced by all. These are as follows
1) Long Working Hours: A 9 AM to 5 PM working pattern is not what a Chef is entitled to. Long and odd working hours along with multiple shifts are too common in this field.
2) Pay Package Issue: Like any other field, a good starting package is tough if you don’t have a degree from a reputed culinary school. Though after a point it also comes down to one’s skill and experience to move ahead financially and professionally.
3) Demanding Job: Standing for long hours combined with constant alertness of mind can drain one physically as well as mentally. So it is a challenging role.
Discipline and devotion are the keys. With the right education and hard work, one can chase and achieve one’s goal of becoming a successful chef.
Culinary Arts - A retreat for Chefs 