Chef

Job Summary 

Plan, direct and participate in food preparation and cooking activities in restaurants, hotels, and other food establishments.

Qualifications

Almost all chefs have some technical qualification obtained through apprenticeship training and/or related post-secondary education.

Responsibilities

Chefs' duties and responsibilities vary from organization to organization but, in general, they:

Supervise cooks and other kitchen staff in the preparation, cooking and presentation of food,

Order food and kitchen supplies based on best price and budget

Check orders received for quantity and quality of product

Create new recipes to please customers

Hire and supervise kitchen staff

Create menus

Estimate labor and food costs and modify menus to stay within budget

Check the quality of raw and cooked food products

Ensure that sanitation standards are maintained

Assist with staff development and training

Meet with other managers in the organization

Promote their establishments by practicing good public relations.

Where there are a number of cooks working for the same employer, they usually specialize in the preparation of particular types of foods. For example, they may be:

Chefs saucier who prepare, season and cook sauces and the meat and fish items they accompany, and prepare soups, casseroles and related dishes

Chefs garde manger who prepare and present salads, cold dishes and cold hors d'oeuvres and buffets

Chefs entremetier who prepare, cook and present vegetables, pasta and egg dishes

Chefs patissier who prepare, cook and present desserts and pastries and may also prepare ice creams and sherbets.

Personal Qualities

A keen sense of taste and smell

Excellent hand-eye co-ordination

Good arithmetic skills

A good memory for details

Artistic and creative talent

Excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills and team-building skills

The ability to remain calm in hectic circumstances

Excellent organizational, leadership and supervisory skills

Enjoy working in a team environment

Enjoy planning and organizing menus and methods of food preparation

Advancement Opportunities?

Experienced chefs may advance to sous-chef and executive chef positions, or purchase and manage their own establishments. Opportunities for advancement depend largely on acquiring better cooking and management skills. Graduates of technical or apprenticeship programs tend to advance more quickly than those who do not have formal qualifications. Nonetheless, for the motivated and skilled chef, many opportunities for advancement exist within this profession.

Pay Range

Salaries for chefs vary a great deal, depending on the size and location of the establishment, volume of business and the chef's reputation.