What is it like to really be a chef in a professional kitchen or even a bakery owner . What do you do daily ? Do you really enjoy what it is that your doing ? Have you ever had any regrets about choosing that career ? Did you ever worry that you would not make enough financial in choosing this career ? Does your job effect your lifestyle or relationship? I would love some insight !

Hello Kort :)

I have been a professional chef in my early career in hotels in Hong Kong and London. I must say it is a very creative and vibrant industry and it is definitely something you must have heart in in order to succeed within. I wil be honest and share that it is very physically taxing, as in you will need to be prepared for long hours of service, so lots of standing and need to enjoy the heat and pressure of the kitchen. Chef life is usually very efficient and things need to be done nicely in a quick and beautiful manner ( of course alot of it is doing it very repetitively). I had gone to culinary school then went to work in hotel kitchens and small bakeries after. The bigger the name of the establishment, the more stressful it will be in terms of business pace and quality of product. Hotels also do not stop during holidays so expect that you will not have personal times on those days and will have to be busy during those days due to more customers. I was not paid very well as it was the kitchen but i was still starting off at a younger state in life so did not mind. You will have less hours to be present with your family and your personal time, so just beware. But with that said, anything is possible in life but you have to be very balanced and know what to expect. But sometimes we learn what we need after we try things so it's hard to fully justify everything! If you are really serious, i would ask if i could volunteer or intern somewhere first to see what its truly like. Being a bakery owner is also a lot of work too and you got to think how much you would need to sell to break even etc! It is not an easy industry but im sure it is very fulfilling and fun to those that find their hearts in it.

I'm sorry I don't work in a kitchen or bakery, but plan on opening one up after I retire.

I think the hours are long and hard, but very satisfying.