Do you enjoy cooking? Do you have a lot of passion for baking or preparing different recipes? Well, you can make a living, while enjoying what you are doing. Becoming a chef is all you need to do to start your career in the catering industry. Therefore, this article will give you accurate information on how to become a chef and what courses you should take. It will shed light on the wages that a chef may earn.

What is a Head Chef?

The chef is a French word that means a kitchen head. There are different terms associated with the word chef for different job titles.

A Head Chef: this designation is for experienced professional chefs, who supervise a group of chefs and kitchen staff. A head chef can start up a catering project and run a restaurant.

A Chef: a person with proper training to master all aspects of food preparations.

A Sous-chef: this person can be a cooking assistant. A sous-chef decorates the final dish or helps in cooking by cutting vegetables or preparing the ingredients. A sous-chef can be an apprentice chef or a chef specialized in a few cuisines.

The kitchen staff is a group of kitchen porters responsible for cleaning the dishes and preparing the cooking equipment for the chef staff. Take a look at What Jobs available in the Catering Industry?

What Does a Head Chef Do?

A head chef is at the top of the hierarchy or the kitchen brigade system in restaurants or hotels. A head chef is responsible for many tasks.

-Supervising tasks: a head chef is responsible for all the different kitchen employees from a chef to a kitchen porter. A head chef sets the strategies to all the kitchen staff and supervises apprentices and all the cooking process.

-Cooking: a head chef is a person who can cook all the different cuisines from different backgrounds.

-A jury in a cooking contest: a head chef can evaluate and test the cooking skills of any participating in a cooking contest.

-Manage a restaurant: a head chef can work as a restaurant manager by leading and setting successful kitchen operations.

-Startup a Cooking Academy: as a certified head chef can give cooking classes, he/ she can also manage a cooking academy and start a teaching career.

How to Become a Head Chef:

A head chef is an advanced job designation in the catering industry. A head chef operates in luxurious restaurants or hotels. You cannot expect a head chef in a takeaway or the fast-food industry. There is a list of requirements to become a head chef.

1.Qualification:

There are many educational paths to fulfill the dream of becoming a head chef. After obtaining the GCSE, a potential head chef should apply for a degree in Culinary Arts. He/ she does not take a crash course in cooking. A head chef is a food expert and an academically recognized cook. A head chef is a college graduate specializing in restaurateur and hotel management...

Let's see in detail what does it include this degree program.

-A cooking certificate

-A restaurant management program

2.Experience:

A head chef should be an experienced applicant if she/ he intends to work in hotels or fancy restaurants. Experience is an essential requirement in the majority of many head chef's job descriptions.

3.Management:   

One of the head chef's duties is to manage the kitchen, including its staff members. This person is responsible for the kitchen in restaurants or other places where food is served. The management process includes supervising the preparation of food, spices, decorations, and estimating the cost of the entire package. Take a look at How Much Does a Waiter Earn?

The requirement list may include other

1. Cleanliness
2. Good business knowledge
3. Pay attention to the details.
4.  Cooking experience
5. Organizational skill
6. The spirit of learning

How Much Does a Head Chef Make?

The amount of money a chef makes depends on several factors such as? Level of experience, qualification, and location.

An entry-level head chef earns up to£29,720, while an experienced head chef may earn an average of £48,690.

Can a Chef Become a Head Chef?

Yes! Chefs can shift their careers to get recognized as head chefs, even if they are not qualified the same. A head chef is a college graduate, while a chef is simply a cook with an apprentice certificate in a cooking specialty. That is, a head chef is usually specialized in all the types of cuisines, including management expertise. On the other hand, a chef is only specialized in one field, such as a chef specializing in Italian food or sweets. Therefore, the main conditions for a chef to become a head chef are:

• Seniority: an experience derived from years in the catering industry.
• Expertise in more than one field: a chef should widen his/ her area of knowledge to reach the level of a head chef take a look at How to Become a Baker in the UK?
• Teaching or training certificate: a chef can apply for another certificate to be able to run a restaurant or take academic positions.