January 27, 2012

An executive chef is the person who is actually in charge of the kitchen. They are in charge of every aspect of the kitchen from menu creation as well as staff management and business aspects from ordering the food from all of the different vendors. Executive chefs are also in charge of hiring and firing of employees as well as instruct the other chefs on preparation, cooking, garnishes and the presentation of the food. Executive chefs are also known as head chefs and chef.

To become an executive chef, you need to have some experience in the kitchen of a restaurant. Most chefs start by going to culinary school to learn how to become a chef. Others start off by getting jobs in restaurants as dishwashers and then gradually move up to prep cook and then garnish, slowly gaining experience, and eventually become an executive chef. But the ultimate training comes from both going to culinary school and working in a restaurant.

Being an executive chef is not for someone who crumbles under the pressure. If you can stand up to pressure like on Hell’s Kitchen with Chef Gordon Ramsay then you are ready for anything. Not only do you have to know how to cook but you also must possess administrative skills as well.

You must have a working knowledge of FOODSAFE, a workplace and first aid is required. You also must be able to prove that you have some experience as a Chef, Cook, Catering Manager or something along those lines. When it comes to hiring chefs most places will not take your word for it that you can cook. They want to see proof that at least you know your way around a kitchen.

A good executive chef should also have some human resources experience; this experience will help you with hiring the right employees. You should have great communication skills, leadership skills, analytical skills and time management skills. You have to know how to delegate and get the food out cooked, looking great and on time.

Overall, you are in charge of the kitchen and when something happens and food is not properly cooked or it takes an hour to get out an appetizer the responsibility will fall on you. This position is very demanding and you really have to earn the respect of the other chefs and waiters and waitresses because these are the people who are helping you with your job. They make you look good. You should also know how to talk to people; there are some chefs that because they are under pressure that they will yell and scream and other people may not how to relate to that.

If you have always dreamed about being a chef, then get the proper training and start off small as a prep cook or something along those lines and then work your way up. They say experience is the best teacher