Becoming a chef is a serious commitment to hard work in an industry that requires you to work long hours, involves high levels of stress, constant deadlines, public and internal scrutiny. If you have any illusions of some glamorous lifestyle and loads of money, you are in for a rude awakening. The kitchen is a grind and if you’re not willing to pay your dues, then you may as well find a new occupation.

I have been in kitchens for years, starting out in the dish room busting suds, working my way up the proverbial kitchen ladder, to where I stand today, as an established chef in the the food service industry. It is my hope that someone can benefit from the information provided on this web site.

I am going to start at the bottom to try and show the importance of being well rounded in the kitchen and building up your technical skills first and foremost. Second, to increase your knowledge of food while developing your organizational and management skills. For all prospective chefs, I suggest you start out your careers in an entry level kitchen position, maybe as a dishwasher, prep cook or pantry chef.

For those of you who are wondering what a pantry chef is, it is the first step to working the line, usually salad, appetizer or dessert preparation. The prep and dish area are excellent starting points. These areas will allow you to gain a sense of constant urgency that is crucial to any good chef.

Working in the prep area will sharpen the necessary technical skills that you need in the kitchen. Food preparation will allow you to see your products in a raw state, to touch, smell and taste. You are introduced to meats, fish and poultry and will learn how to properly cut and slice produce. You may be asked to produce a stock or a sauce, so it is important for you to learn what you can in the kitchen by asking questions, paying attention to what you see other more experience cooks and chef doing. It is your responsibility to do your own research by reading books, magazines, and improving yourself by utilizing the skills you have learned.