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Where to start off in culinary ?
Where to start off to build an image for culinary? Fast food, restaurants?
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H. Gonen’s Answer
Fast casual restaurants might be a good place to start. Panera Bread and similar establishments offer an experience that's in between a coffee shop and a full service restaurant.
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John’s Answer
You will need more skills and technique to work in a restaurant than in fast food but you will also learn more and when you speak of "image" and "reputation" you can also become more valuable with experience from experiences in working in restaurant kitchens as opposed to fast food which have a great deal of repetitive actions and systems to actually do the preparation and cooking.
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Richard’s Answer
I started washing dishes at 14 years old in a mom and pop restuarant, I'm now an EC for a large hotel. It's often difficult to get a cook's job at an independent restaurant if you have no experience. Getting in as a dishwasher is like starting out in the mailroom... it's an essential function and you can demonstrate your work ethic and aptitude... every chef appreciates a dishwasher who'll volunteer to peel potatoes and dice carrots.... Fast food restaurants offer a lot to entry level culinarians. Fast food teaches discipline, efficient mis en place, fundamental sanitation, brigade implementation and recipe adherence, among other essential skills and can be a good place to get started. A chef looking to hire will consider fast food experience in regards to fundamental skill sets, attendance record, etc.... not the quality of the food. I prefer hiring cooks with strong fundamentals who want to learn my recipes and methods, not ones who've been trained by a different chef to do it a different way! Coming from chain and fast food restaurants gives cooks a good base with less bias and pretention. Just remember, you will pay your dues... right or wrong, this industry believes strongly in proving your worth and work ethic before you're rewarded.
get a job washing dishes at a local "mom n pop" restaurant with a good chef leading the kitchen
Richard recommends the following next steps:
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Richard’s Answer
I started washing dishes at 14 years old in a mom and pop restuarant, I'm now an EC for a large hotel. It's often difficult to get a cook's job at an independent restaurant if you have no experience. Getting in as a dishwasher is like starting out in the mailroom... it's an essential function and you can demonstrate your work ethic and aptitude... every chef appreciates a dishwasher who'll volunteer to peel potatoes and dice carrots.... Fast food restaurants offer a lot to entry level culinarians. Fast food teaches discipline, efficient mis en place, fundamental sanitation, brigade implementation and recipe adherence, among other essential skills and can be a good place to get started. A chef looking to hire will consider fast food experience in regards to fundamental skill sets, attendance record, etc.... not the quality of the food. I prefer hiring cooks with strong fundamentals who want to learn my recipes and methods, not ones who've been trained by a different chef to do it a different way! Coming from chain and fast food restaurants gives cooks a good base with less bias and pretention.
get a job washing dishes at a local "mom n pop"
Richard recommends the following next steps:
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Ross’s Answer
There is nothing you can learn in culinary school that working in a restaurant won't teach you and in a restaurant you get paid to learn as opposed to paying to learn it.
Find a restaurant that that you like with a cuisine you want to learn and apply for a job. Everyone will hire a dishwasher and you will learn a lot at that position.
Find a restaurant that that you like with a cuisine you want to learn and apply for a job. Everyone will hire a dishwasher and you will learn a lot at that position.
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Jason’s Answer
If you're really interested in cooking , start in your own house. use your family and friends as Gini pigs . They will tell you right away if it's good or not. Experiment first with anything you want, any cuisine, styles and flavors. The first job in the kitchen should be a dish washer or prep cook starting in high school. Get the feel for the hours, labor and the real commercial kitchen environment. Pending how you like it or not you're still young enough and now smart enough to decide if it's the right career move. Just make sure you really love food and cooking to make the right choice. good luck.
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Rebecca’s Answer
Thank you for your question. I am glad to hear that you have interest in culinary careers. There are many careers in culinary business and different cuisine as well
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many careers in culinary business, eg chef, restaurants manager, merchandiser, marketing, etc. You can find out more and determine what you have interest
2. Attend Hospitality Management courses and general management courses
3. Explore courses in famous culinary school eg Le Cordon Bleu, etc
4..Work in the industry some time after graduation to understand the business model and establish people network
5. Consider to start the business in small scale first
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Below are my suggestions:
1. There are many careers in culinary business, eg chef, restaurants manager, merchandiser, marketing, etc. You can find out more and determine what you have interest
2. Attend Hospitality Management courses and general management courses
3. Explore courses in famous culinary school eg Le Cordon Bleu, etc
4..Work in the industry some time after graduation to understand the business model and establish people network
5. Consider to start the business in small scale first
Hope this helps! Good Luck!
May Almighty God bless you!
Updated
chef Jeamesha’s Answer
Hello, I would suggest start in a sit down resturant if possible. If not, go with a chain casual resturant. Make fast food your last option if possible.
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Paul’s Answer
Stay away from fast food places. They are only there to produce methodical means of food. There is no experience in this field that will train you for actual food service
this answer is disingenuous. Fast food teaches efficient mis en place, fundamental sanitation, brigade implementation and recipe adherence, among other essential skills.
Richard Schlosberg
Updated
Michel’s Answer
Get a job as a dishwasher or prep cook at a busy restaurant and see how the environment resonates with you. You will know in a few days if its where you belong.
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