Posted by Lorri Royle on November 20, 1997 at 22:05:27:
In Reply to: Re: Cooking Schools Vs. apprenticeships posted by Chef Rene on November 14, 1997 at 06:08:30:
:
: : : It is hard to get a job as a cook without experience, and a good
: : : cooking school is a place to get a start. The "traditional" way is to start as a dishwasher but that takes time and luck.
: : : You won't learn how to handle a busy dining room from a cooking school kitchen, but it will give you confidence and a familiarity with the tools.
: : : Many people who do get to Chef leval by concentrating on Cuisine
: : : miss the important lessons of Management. The food business is very particularly difficult to make money in. Balancing gourmet dishes and food cost is the technique that makes great chefs successful. A school with good management courses will keep you from being a slave to a restaurant owner or Food & Beverage Manager.
: : : As said by the chef who has already replied to your querie, schooling AND experience should be mixed for best results.
: : : Good Luck!
: : Starting as a dishwasher doesn't take luck , it just takes work, you get familiar with the tools if you wash em too.
: : You're correct re' the business aspect, its so true. I've seen many average cooks make millions and too many gormets who couldn't run a popcorn stand and stay in business.
: : Yeh its not easy to get started but then again if it was easy everyone would be mediocre.
: Hi:
: Experience is hands on. Starting from s dishwasher up the ladder to Executive Chef. Takes many years of hard work and sacrifice. Cooking schools are good for diplomas, titles,etc...
: I always compare my carreer as building a house. You start from the basement ( dishwashing), the walls, ( cooking on all the stations) The roof ( Chef, executive Chef, Pastry Chef, etc) Many people go to cooking schools, expect to be a chef when they graduate, that house has no foundation, it collapses.
: Good Luck
: Chef Rene
Chef Rene, don't you think it is possible to build a strong foundation with some formal education. My education comes from my family(95% are in the food industry), media(books, newspapers, internet, and tv), and now from a small community college. When I started school, there was already a firm foundation there to begin with. I hope by attending school I can hone those skills, when I get in the real world, perfect them. Lorri Royle