4 answers
Emma
Student
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
1
Question
Asked
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How many steps do you need to take to be a culinary student ?
#culinary-arts #cooking #culinary-arts #cooking
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4 answers
Edward King, MBA, RSC
Corporate Executive Chef
1
Answer
Nashville, Tennessee
Updated
Edward’s Answer
Emma,
Such a great question! If you cook at home for family and friends or anywhere for others, I would consider that to be a first step. Then if someone in your family cooks well, ask the “W’s” who, what, when, why... I was dead set on being a lawyer. Was accepted to big time schools as a HS junior, but something clicked over the summer and wanted to be a chef. Got accepted to both Johnson & Wales and CIA, and a few others as back ups. For me I wanted a real college experience while also learning from the best. CIA is just situated in in Hyde park, where?!? Boring town. I went JWU north Miami . Where a ton of other degrees are offered. So it’s like going to Michigan or UCLA or LSU it’s all random.
But start at home. My middle school and high school offered “cooking” classes that earn dual credits that translate to college credits. I took the classes to be lazy but learned so much without even knowing it. When it comes to wanting to be a “chef” .... it’s not just cooking and slicing and making pretty plates. Pay attention to your computer skills, math is crazy important both imperial and metric (si). And then the equipment, paper work, purveyors, team building and soooo much more. It’s a circus day to day. Always fun but every once in a while you find your self in the mirror house and get overwhelming lost the fist time. But learn from it. Never stop learning. Learn from a mistake that is terrible, learn from a mistake that turns out so good you wish you knew where you messed up, and learn from the face of that first bite people make when they eat YOUR food. That will tell you... and ask your parents first, but watch the Bradley Cooper movie “Burnt” !!! he went through hell with insane and world renowned chefs to learn the part. The stress and lack of sleep are real. The best cook I ever hired, I was opening a a restaurant in middle of nowhere Arkansas, we were out partying and stopped at a Waffle House to grub at like 2 am. The guy cooking was magical. He was raw but could cook so good. He was just paying bills from a random job that gave him money. I told him to come by the restaurant when he had time. 6 hours later he was there with my card asking for a chance. That was 2009. He is a regional chef with 20+ restaurants under him and we talk weekly. I get family Xmas cards. It’s not about books and pictures. It about want. I went JWU route some of my Exec and Sous have never done anything school wise. It’s what is inside you that matters. Like I said, I was 12 months away from the lawyer tract at Cornell and instead went JWU and then Arizona State for my Masters in Business. It’s the beautiful thing about this life, school or none, can’t cook cook at a restaurant but excel in banquets, suck at sauté on a French top but can run a plancha and igloo pizza oven at the same time. Find your true want and massage your.... YOUR..... niche to make you, you. And own it.
Want it
When ANY food is being cooked watch. Wendy’s to fine dining. Just watch. See what and why and what went good/wrong
College or on the job training? That’s up to you
Cook because you want to. Don’t cook only for money.
Find a way to make you stand out. Make it. And then give back. Make your next generation better.
Such a great question! If you cook at home for family and friends or anywhere for others, I would consider that to be a first step. Then if someone in your family cooks well, ask the “W’s” who, what, when, why... I was dead set on being a lawyer. Was accepted to big time schools as a HS junior, but something clicked over the summer and wanted to be a chef. Got accepted to both Johnson & Wales and CIA, and a few others as back ups. For me I wanted a real college experience while also learning from the best. CIA is just situated in in Hyde park, where?!? Boring town. I went JWU north Miami . Where a ton of other degrees are offered. So it’s like going to Michigan or UCLA or LSU it’s all random.
But start at home. My middle school and high school offered “cooking” classes that earn dual credits that translate to college credits. I took the classes to be lazy but learned so much without even knowing it. When it comes to wanting to be a “chef” .... it’s not just cooking and slicing and making pretty plates. Pay attention to your computer skills, math is crazy important both imperial and metric (si). And then the equipment, paper work, purveyors, team building and soooo much more. It’s a circus day to day. Always fun but every once in a while you find your self in the mirror house and get overwhelming lost the fist time. But learn from it. Never stop learning. Learn from a mistake that is terrible, learn from a mistake that turns out so good you wish you knew where you messed up, and learn from the face of that first bite people make when they eat YOUR food. That will tell you... and ask your parents first, but watch the Bradley Cooper movie “Burnt” !!! he went through hell with insane and world renowned chefs to learn the part. The stress and lack of sleep are real. The best cook I ever hired, I was opening a a restaurant in middle of nowhere Arkansas, we were out partying and stopped at a Waffle House to grub at like 2 am. The guy cooking was magical. He was raw but could cook so good. He was just paying bills from a random job that gave him money. I told him to come by the restaurant when he had time. 6 hours later he was there with my card asking for a chance. That was 2009. He is a regional chef with 20+ restaurants under him and we talk weekly. I get family Xmas cards. It’s not about books and pictures. It about want. I went JWU route some of my Exec and Sous have never done anything school wise. It’s what is inside you that matters. Like I said, I was 12 months away from the lawyer tract at Cornell and instead went JWU and then Arizona State for my Masters in Business. It’s the beautiful thing about this life, school or none, can’t cook cook at a restaurant but excel in banquets, suck at sauté on a French top but can run a plancha and igloo pizza oven at the same time. Find your true want and massage your.... YOUR..... niche to make you, you. And own it.
Edward recommends the following next steps:
Lamar Sloss
Chef
2
Answers
Anchorage, Alaska
Updated
Lamar’s Answer
You cab learn on the job. Culinary school isn’t the only way.
foodwinetour food wine tour
technical office manager
8
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
foodwinetour’s Answer
1.- Study
2.- Look for you nearest or prefer Culinary School/university
3.- Pay it (yourself, your parents or scholarship)
4.- Study
Summary: Study.
my best!!
@foodwinetour
2.- Look for you nearest or prefer Culinary School/university
3.- Pay it (yourself, your parents or scholarship)
4.- Study
Summary: Study.
my best!!
@foodwinetour
JonVincent Bell
Chef
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
JonVincent’s Answer
The very first thing you should do is get an appointment with a local Exec Chef. He can point you in the right direction as far as what school may be the right fit for you. Ask yourself; have I pictured myself being a chef? Can I cook? What type of Chef do I want to be? How far away from home? And of course, how much is the program?
It also is good to get a mentor, and someone to explain what it may be like when you get out of school!
Get your core education courses out of the way
Look for part time jobs cooking
Look for a place that you can see yourself studying
Start dreaming of the type restaurant you want to open
It also is good to get a mentor, and someone to explain what it may be like when you get out of school!
JonVincent recommends the following next steps: