The growth in hospitality industry has giving rise to a growing demand for professional chefs. As a chef, one not only gets the opportunity to spice up palatable dishes, but also make a fortune by way of it. It is the chef, who holds the recipe for the success of an eatery or a catering business. If one nurtures the desire to win a million hearts by serving people with good food, a career as a chef is the right answer.
Benefits
If you are looking for chef career information, you are likely looking for the benefits of this career. Of course, there is the obvious benefit – you get paid for doing something that you love to do. It is really great to actually love your work. You will never feel like reporting for work is a drag. Long hours baking or whipping up delicious meals go by hardly noticed.
There is a great sense of accomplishment attached to being able to create delectable or mouthwatering dishes. The best thing about this is that you actually get paid for cooking these dishes! It is also extremely satisfying to see people enjoying the meals that you prepare. It is certainly enjoyable to hear a customer praise you for a delicious hearty beef stew or your pan fried fillet of red snappers.
The Other Side
When looking for chef career information, it is also advisable that you familiarize yourself with the job drawbacks. Again, it is not easy to pursue a culinary career. It will require you to stand on your feet for several hours on a daily basis. There is often no time for rest. This is not a laughing matter. It is exhausting. You may not notice it if you enjoy your work, but you will certainly feel the exhaustion at the end of the day. This is why it is not really a job for everyone. In truth, the long hours of work are also one of the drawbacks to this career.
Another drawback is the kitchen environment. You can hardly find a kitchen that is sweet and breezy. A busy kitchen is often hot and noisy. You need to prepare to sweat. You will often find yourself cooking over an open flame or opening hot ovens. You will have to deal with grease as well on a daily basis. The job is often associated with burns, cuts and bruises. You will likely find yourself being burned a number of times. This is expected considering that you will be dealing with boiling liquids and simmering oils. You will have to handle knives and blades on a daily basis, so it’s fairly common to find your fingers and hands with nicks and cuts.
Many people imagine themselves becoming celebrity chefs. It’s a nice thought, but this is not what often happens. Just because you have a certification from a prestigious culinary school does not necessarily mean that the Food Network will give you your own show. It doesn’t mean that you will be earning thousands and thousands of dollars a week. Of course, this is a good dream, but if you will bother with any chef career information, you will know otherwise. Of course, you can always do your best to make it big. Perhaps, Lady Luck will smile at you and you can end up with your own cooking show. However, you need a lot of luck and you need to work really hard for this.
Eligibility
One needs to pass class X examination in order to go in for a diploma course in food craft. In order to opt for a degree course in culinary arts, one should have completed 10+2 in any stream.
Career-Prospects
Professional chefs may find jobs in hotels, restaurants, air catering, food processing companies, catering in confectioneries, cruise liner, corporate catering, etc. Departmental catering services of defence and railways departments are also open to them. They also can work in canteens operated by universities, colleges and private schools. Chefs also become a food writer or food journalist. A two-year post graduation degree from IHM institutions can offer you to join as faculty member in government or private institutions offering hotel management courses. And, of course, you can become an entrepreneur by setting up your own business. In addition to all you can find a job in abroad as Indian chefs are lately much in demand in countries like the USA, Australia and Canada.
Remuneration
Even though the pay scales may vary from place to place, the differences are not too many. A new entrant can earns about Rs. 10,000 - 15,000 per month. After gaining 5-7 years of experience one can easily earns Rs.50, 000 - 60,000 per month. As you reach the top and become the Executive chef, your salary can be anything between Rs. 1 lakh - 2 lakh per month.
As one gains experience of around 10 Years, one can draw a salary of Rs.40000 to Rs.50000 in a five star deluxe hotel. when one reaches the top and becomes an executive chef one's salary can be anything between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh per month.
According to the ITC's latest annual report 1, the executive pastry chef at maurya Sheraton earns a gross remuneration of Rs.52 lakh plus while the Chinese chef at grand Maratha Sheraton gets a package of Rs.50 lakh.
It is a well - known fact that mostly, food habits are culturally determined, so one should be adaptable to the changing social order and food habits of people.
Besides, as a chef, one must keep oneself abreast of the latest technologies and techniques of cooking. If one works sincerely and passionately in this field, the sky is ultimate limit.
Institutes
Courses in hotel management and food processing are offered by several institutes in India. Some most important among them are:
Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad;
The Welcome Group Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal;
The Oberoi Center of Learning and Development, New Delhi;
Government Institutes of Hotel Management and Catering, Dehradun and Almora;
The Oriental School of Hotel Management, Mumbai, Delhi and Vadodara;
National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi;
Delhi Institute Of Hotel Management, New Delhi;
State Institute Of Hotel Management And Catering Technology, Thuvakkudi
Amity School Of Hospitality, Noida
