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What is required to work in a gourmet restaurant?
I have never belonged to a gourmet restaurant and would like to know what it takes to get in, whether it's a degree, being mentally prepared or experience.
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9 answers
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Howard’s Answer
You will need all of those things to get started.
What is your definition of a gourmet restaurant?
Go to those places to see what they are doing and how they do it.
Network and make contacts to meet people who can help you.
You will need hard work and good character to succeed. If you work for a good company or chef you will again meet people and learn things that can help you move forward. You may apply to a lot of companies and restaurants. You will be told no many times. But do not stop. Keep going back and going to other places until you get a break. Hard work persistence and ethics will get you in the door. Do not be afraid to try and fail. Each time you make a mistake you will learn something. Try not to make the same mistake again.
What is your definition of a gourmet restaurant?
Go to those places to see what they are doing and how they do it.
Network and make contacts to meet people who can help you.
You will need hard work and good character to succeed. If you work for a good company or chef you will again meet people and learn things that can help you move forward. You may apply to a lot of companies and restaurants. You will be told no many times. But do not stop. Keep going back and going to other places until you get a break. Hard work persistence and ethics will get you in the door. Do not be afraid to try and fail. Each time you make a mistake you will learn something. Try not to make the same mistake again.
Updated
Paul’s Answer
You need to get experience. Have you gone to culinary school? A lot of upscale restaurants will take a recent graduate knowing that you need to get experience. The other one is work your way up and other levels of restaurants until you get the reputation that you are a team player and an excellent cook. Most of all you must be patient this stuff will not just come to you you must pay your dues
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Andrew’s Answer
Willingness to learn and leave your opinions at home
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William’s Answer
Dear Angel,
The advice you've received so far has been quite beneficial. I'm curious, why did you opt for a "gourmet" restaurant? Can you name a few local establishments that you regard as gourmet? I'd suggest visiting these places and arranging a meeting with the Chef. If some Chefs decline your request, don't be disheartened. It might require a respectful persistence to secure an appointment. Share your enthusiasm for cooking with these Chefs and, as Chef Andrew mentioned, express your "eagerness to learn". If you manage to land a job in one of their kitchens, expect to start at the bottom, perhaps earning minimum wage and handling tasks like vegetable peeling.
This journey will demand a great deal of determination, motivation, patience, and most importantly, passion. Best of luck on your culinary adventure.
The advice you've received so far has been quite beneficial. I'm curious, why did you opt for a "gourmet" restaurant? Can you name a few local establishments that you regard as gourmet? I'd suggest visiting these places and arranging a meeting with the Chef. If some Chefs decline your request, don't be disheartened. It might require a respectful persistence to secure an appointment. Share your enthusiasm for cooking with these Chefs and, as Chef Andrew mentioned, express your "eagerness to learn". If you manage to land a job in one of their kitchens, expect to start at the bottom, perhaps earning minimum wage and handling tasks like vegetable peeling.
This journey will demand a great deal of determination, motivation, patience, and most importantly, passion. Best of luck on your culinary adventure.
Updated
Brianna Ashlynn’s Answer
you'll need a ServSafe certification to demonstrate your food safety knowledge. While the exam can be expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment for advancing your career, especially if you have limited experience and don't hold a college degree. Networking can also be crucial in finding job opportunities.
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Rhonda’s Answer
A degree isn’t required, if you do t have one you will need experience and a will to learn and grow. Often you will start simple and as you gain experience in that area you can then learn another.
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James’s Answer
I once owned a gourmet restaurant and hired many people, including 4-year culinary degree students and students with no experience at all. I found no consistent difference between the two. In fact, those with experience were so eager to show me how they had learned it that they weren't listening to the way I wanted it. So, I have a somewhat unorthodox answer: Don't bother with cooking school. Cook at home, read a lot, and learn what you can on your own. Read, read, read. Take the money you would have spent on cooking school and, if you can swing it, go live abroad for a year and learn a country's cuisine, language, and culture. In that way, when you return to the United States, you have something original to offer, not just the same standard stuff taught in cooking schools. Also, this background, as did my experience in France, will guide you in your improvisations. As a result of my French background, I tend to cook like a French person would even when cooking something newly improvised. Hope this helps.
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John’s Answer
Hello Angel! The term "Gourmet Restaurant" is hard to define for me because many restaurants can meet that description depending on a definition of "gourmet" As others have said is to get experience in cooking on the job or in culinary school, but develop your skills and get to know yourself and your comfort level to see if it is something that you "love" to do and you can keep up with the pace in the kitchen no matter what type of food service establishment you are working at. Most cooks / chefs are fairly mobile but some may "specialize" such as pastry chefs that only do desserts but that limit them to places like large hotels that do big events or maybe casinos in places like Las Vegas.
You have plenty of time to think about what will make you happy and work toward that, because that will be what is what is important. One of the other persons giving advice suggested to start working and learn as you go to be a "team player" and that will probably guide you and how to find your comfort zone.
You have plenty of time to think about what will make you happy and work toward that, because that will be what is what is important. One of the other persons giving advice suggested to start working and learn as you go to be a "team player" and that will probably guide you and how to find your comfort zone.
Updated
Laurent’s Answer
hi!
go and apply to the places you want to work.
ask to speak with he head chef, ask for trials. it will be hard,long hours and much more. yo must knock on the doors and do not give up.
but choose wisely the etablishment,just don't go to a place because you think is fancy because they do things differently from what you are used too. look at the guides like michelin,guilt and millau and others. look at food magazines too,instagram is a place to check as well.
then when you see what you want to do ,apporach them: email,call,messages,go there and ask to make an appointment,etc..
always be polite,dress sharply,watch your language,be honest without been too much.
wishing you all the best.
go and apply to the places you want to work.
ask to speak with he head chef, ask for trials. it will be hard,long hours and much more. yo must knock on the doors and do not give up.
but choose wisely the etablishment,just don't go to a place because you think is fancy because they do things differently from what you are used too. look at the guides like michelin,guilt and millau and others. look at food magazines too,instagram is a place to check as well.
then when you see what you want to do ,apporach them: email,call,messages,go there and ask to make an appointment,etc..
always be polite,dress sharply,watch your language,be honest without been too much.
wishing you all the best.