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What it takes to become a professional cook

By Jean Cox


With improved communications and television in particular, cooking programs are now more popular than ever. The logistics of the situation vary depending on the show. Certain shows provide contestants with recipes that they are to follow. In other cases, you are expected to taste a given dish and replicate it with no recipe to assist you. Celebrity chefs and actors are a common feature.. They either help the chefs cook or prepare dishes of their own.

Certain programs involve renowned chefs They are held in high regard by those in the industry. They also have prior experience working in two-hat and three-hat restaurants. At present, there are shows where professional chefs themselves challenge each other in cook-offs, usually for a hefty sum of prize money. The food will be judged by external parties in terms of presentation, taste and innovation.

In order to become a professional cook, there is a process to be followed. To start off, you have to be familiar with basic cooking skills. Some of the important ones are the ability to cook your own recipes; knowing how to use kitchen equipment and utensils as well as proficiency in various cooking styles. With every dish they make, they juxtapose taste with visual presentation. Hygiene in the kitchen is capital to them

Knowing what sort of chef you want to be, whether you want to cater on a large or small scale and the type of food you want to cook is mandatory.

Professional training is capital. There are many culinary institutions and hotel schools that exist for this very purpose.Cooking fundamentals taught include various culinary terminology, cooking best practices and basic equipment training. If you are an apprentice for a chef, it'll greatly help you when you want to be employed. This will considerably boost your chances of being hired by a renowned restaurant or hotel. Culinary apprenticeships generally receive sponsorship from specialist cooking institutions.

An American Culinary Federation certificate ought to be your next milestone. It isn't a must for you to receive employment but it will improve your overall image. All the steps given here will prove to be very useful if professional cooking is your chosen career path. Always remember that cooking is different from occupations like law and business. It is an art that has to be developed and pruned. If you have a passion for it, it'll translate in your cooking and result in a dish with unparalleled taste and presentation. The best chefs are therefore, the most passionate ones.




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