Becoming a Chef?

Question

I wanted to know some tips into going into the culinary field. I have not done that much cooking, everything I have cooked has turned out pretty good, and once I make something once it just becomes second nature. So I know I have some skill, however I lack the technical knowledge and experience to just do things, to think up things, and all of that. However I have always had a passion for cooking, and I admire chefs a ton. There is a chance I could have a job apprenticing at a resturaunt and going to culinary school, but I would need to know most of the basics before I did that. I do not have enough money where I can just start throwing stuff in a pan and seeing how it comes out, atleast not often. I was wondering if any chef's or people knowledgable in the field cound give me some advice on how to get the basics down, flavors of stuff, techniques, so like any books or anything you would suggest?

Thanks a ton

Answer 1

You might be able to get the apprenticeship, but that's only if the chef is willing to train. With some rudimentary skills you could start out as a line cook possibly. Even as a lowly prep cook. A lot of great chefs started out even in the dishroom and worked their way up through the ranks and then went to culinary school. Experience almost matters more than school in a lot of cases.

For a good book about how chefs got to where they are, there's a good book called "Becoming a Chef". Also, read a lot of food history books, that way you know why's behind the food, not just the how's. And food science books to understand why things are added or done a certain way.

Good luck, pursue that dream!

Answer 2

Yes, it could be tough to best cooking meat for those who could not style it. But you would mostly eyeball whether or not you had cooked it good and for those who had any one else style it for you then you definately would best your method. Why no longer come to be a vegetarian or vegan chef? Move to San Francisco, LA, or New York and there are tons of veggie eating places that serve gourmand faire.