what are the requirements for a chef?

Kenia,

First of all you'll have to really enjoy cooking, obviously. Chefs are generally on their feet for the majority of the time they are working and it is not unusual for them to have to lift heavy objects. Pots, pans, bags of ingredients, etc. that can be very heavy. You will need a knowledge of cooking and food preparation techniques as well as food safety to make sure that you don't make people sick with your food.

In a busy kitchen, you will need to know how to multitask, many orders may be coming in at a time.

-Manuel

Kenia,

While there no official requirements to becoming a chef, you must be passionate, enthusiastic and possess broad understanding of ingredients and culinary techniques. As a chef, you'll spend more time coaching, valuating and managing than cooking. You must be the best cook in your kitchen and be able to demonstrate craftsmanship and expertise. It's also helpful to be resilient because people are likely to share criticism (which you might disagree with).

I recommend developing your culinary skills by working in a commercial kitchen (restaurant) and asking lots of questions. I believe you can learn more by working than attending culinary school.

Whichever route you choose, be passionate and focused. You won't get rich but there's nothing more satisfying than knowing people will pay to eat your food.

I agree with Jame Belle advise.

There is really no basic requirements for being a chef. In career choices, if you can choose something that you really passionate in, it make you happy to go to work everyday. Imagine doing that for 40 to 50 years.

I was born and raised in a bakery, and my parents never wanted me to be a baker or a chef. And I am both!

I love to bake, and love the creative part of French baking, that you can make food look so pretty. I love to cook. I love that a spice can have so much history to learn about and link to so many cultures. International recipes is one of my passion in baking and cooking.

When you have the passion for something you can always make it flourish in your career. It might be challenging at times, but because you have the talents, the passion, the patience, and good attitude to learn the skills and build the experiences that will make you a very successful person in anything you want to achieve in your career.

Kenia,

Everything that Manuel mentioned is spot on. Another thing that every chef must have is creativity. We have to be able to think outside the box when it comes to food. Build your knowledge of different cultures in order to expand your culinary skills. Always be willing to try new things, even if you fail sometimes. One of the most important traits of a chef is a sense of urgency and time management. Many foods are time and temperature sensitive, so you have to know how to produce the best products in a timely manner without compromising the quality of the ingredients.