Culinary Arts Outlook
The saying: “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life,” resonates with many you ask who work in the culinary industry. If you love cooking so much that you want to pursue it as a profession, you should definitely consider training in Culinary Arts. You’ve probably watched many episodes from just as many cooking shows, from “Chopped” to “Cupcake Wars.” If we’ve all learned anything from watching these shows, it is that working in the culinary field takes hard work – yet it can be an amazing and fulfilling career.
Culinary Professions
There are many different positions in the culinary industry. These include executive chef, sous chef, line chef, short-order cook or pastry chef, to name just a few. Generally, those employed in the culinary field will prepare food, cook and create meals and dishes for restaurants or similar establishments where food is served in both the private and commercial sectors.
What do chefs do?
The daily tasks and functions of a chef vary by his or her position within the kitchen and in relation to their role with the other chefs. You could be the Executive Chef, who oversees the entire kitchen as well as every dish that leaves the kitchen. Or, you could be a line cook and perform duties that include baking or prepping food ingredients. For your first time working in a restaurant, you’ll most likely start your career as a line cook or prep cook.
Daily Tasks and Responsibilities of a Line Cook or Prep Cook
- Set up kitchen stations and gather all necessary supplies for the menu to prepare for service.
- Prepare a variety of foods such as meat, seafood, and vegetables, among others.
- Arrange sauces and garnishes
- Close the kitchen by following the closing checklist for all kitchen stations.
- Always use safe and hygienic practices when handling food.
- Return dirty food preparation utensils to the appropriate areas.
Job Outlook:
The culinary field is one of the most exciting yet demanding industries in the current job market. According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry is the second largest private-sector employer in the United States. The projection is that by 2023, the restaurant industry will add 1.3 million jobs. It is also important to note that the food service industry is heavily affected by the state of the economy. When people have less money to spend on going out to eat, the industry follows suit.
The Road to Becoming a Chef
The food service industry has a wide variety of culinary careers and industries to choose from. Although a formal education in the culinary arts is not required to become a chef, it is extremely helpful and could give you an extra edge over the competition when it comes to getting hired at the top restaurants. It is a good idea to get a job in the food service industry as soon as possible, as you can get a feel of how these businesses operate. (It doesn’t have to be the most glamorous job. Keep in mind that the experience can help you grow into the chef you want to be.)
Culinary Arts Program at Dorsey Schools
The Culinary Arts diploma program at Dorsey Schools is designed to prepare students for work in professional food serving facilities in both the public and private sectors. Classes take place in kitchen and classroom settings. This way, students of the Culinary Arts program will “learn by doing” in the practical side of professional food preparation.
Students will be exposed to the fundamental skills that are necessary for success in the culinary industry. These skills include proper sanitation, knife cuts, cooking techniques, food preparation, food purchasing and specifications, catering and general professionalism. The curriculum also covers specific aspects of the culinary world such as baking, butchering, healthy cooking and nutrition, menu planning and pricing, kitchen management, and inventory control.
The externship portion of the curriculum will allow students to integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the program into practical application. Graduates of the program have the opportunity to take the National Restaurant Association ServSafe® Certification Exam and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation Nutrition Certification Test as a part of the Culinary Arts Program.
The Culinary Arts program at Dorsey Schools is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation. If you are interested in the Culinary Arts program here at Dorsey Schools, please visit us at: https://www.dorsey.edu/cooking-program.php.
For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the programs, and other important information, please visit our website at https://www.dorsey.edu/disclosures.php.
