What is the proper chef training if you want to become a chef?
Asked by Tom B
I've been thinking about starting a career in the culinary arts field. I've enjoyed cooking and baking my entire and I want to know what is the training to becoming a chef?

Best Answer:
Step 1: Researching the Culinary Chef Career Duties and Education A master of food, a culinary chef prepares meals that comfort, uplift and arouse all while nourishing patrons’ taste buds and palates. A culinary chef also crates menus while preparing food and managing kitchen employees. Culinary chefs must have a great sense of smell and taste with high levels of creativity and a knack for experimentation (to ensure the success of the menu). Some culinary chefs work from the bottom up; however, it is more common these days for a culinary chef to have formal and professional training through an apprenticeship or program offered by an institute or college. Step 2: Prep While in High School Along with your relevant high school classes, like English, mathematics, take any class that will prepare you for the kitchen. Business, food handling and cooking safety are good to take as well. Check to see if your community offers chefs training programs. Finally, get experience in the industry by getting a job at a restaurant. Any of your choice, experience always matters. Step 3: Work Your Way Up The best way in becoming a culinary chef is starting at the bottom of the chef career path and work your way up. Start in the kitchen as a dishwasher, bus boy/girl, host or waiter/waitress. Get familiar with the food, the customers, the staff and the business; it well you in the long to understand what a restaurant owners wants and needs from employees. Your first cooking job usually is cleaning cooking areas, peeling, gutting, chopping; the lighter things. Next, you will be responsible for preparing soups, appetizers, salads or desserts. The next step is becoming a line cook; this is where you prepare items based on type of food or cooking, such as grill or sauté cook. Second to the head chef is the sous chef, who works on the line and has the added responsibility of watching over the rest of the kitchen staff. Top of the ‘top’ culinary chefs is the executive chef. As executive chef, you manage the entire kitchen, create the menu, invent and test cooking ingredients and recipes and stock for the entire kitchen. It can very well take you years to become a ‘top’ culinary executive chef. Step 4: Apprenticeship Enrolling in an apprenticeship program accredited by the ACCFFAC (American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission) will most certainly put your culinary chef career on the right path. Many apprenticeships are 2 or 3 year on-the-job, full-time training and you must complete at least 12 courses in the subjects relevant to a culinary chef career. These apprentices are paid and can earn you an optional culinary arts associate degree in the process. The American Culinary Federation’s (ACF’s) website has all the details and locations of the programs. Step 5: Formal Recipe for Success In order for students to start a culinary chef career, and advance in the culinary chef field, you must have a high school diploma. Trade and vocational schools offer basic training as well. You may attend a community college or culinary institution or attend a private cooking school that offers 2 or 4 year programs in culinary arts. In addition to your program learning, students enrolled in culinary arts programs find that working in an ‘upscale’ or ‘fine-dining’ restaurants help the learning process significantly. ACF offers certifications in a number of culinary arts careers such as; educator, personal chef, pastry chef and others. The combination of certification and work experience with on-the-job training is the best recipe for success in starting your culinary chef career.
http://www.talenttrove.com/media/363690-5-culinary-chef-career-tips
Answered by Jesse T

I unearthed the site in the box below recently when I was looking for a renewed career. I was in a dead-end job but I wasn't certain what I really wanted to do or how to get there. The tips and tricks on the site helped me to decide on my renewed career, and gave me some excellent suggestions about how to begin.
Answered by Maribel

I am assuming that you are in the states. The are many cullinary colleges available. Personally for me it was sending a letter to every Michelin Chef in the world asking to work for them. I originally worked for free and got a meal and accomodation but now the doors are wide open
Answered by Timothy C

I finished my Culinary Arts degree three years ago. The easy part was getting into a school and finding information about certificates. The first thing you need to do is search for a college that has a good culinary arts program. Do your homework, check with numerous colleges, ask about the instructors (I had one who had previously worked at the white house), and what the college offers for a degree and certifications. Then once in the program, feel free to ask for advice from your instructors, they will be awesome mentors to help you achieve your goals as a chef.
Answered by BlueEyedHusky