You have seen how big of a deal cooking is on MasterChef. Gordon Ramsey will tell you that cooking is more than just throwing a few ingredients into a pot of boiling water. If you have a passion for serving people with the best food, read on and find out what it is like to be pursuing a career in the food business. It is more than what you think it is!  

In pursuing a career in culinary arts, students can take certificate, diploma, or degree courses depending on what is offered by baking and cooking schools and universities.

Cooking as a science

One of the core aspect of becoming a chef is the ability to put together ingredients that bring out the best flavours. Students in culinary arts courses will cover the basic combinations of ingredients and will learn to discover new combinations through recipe development and menu planning in order to create mouth-watering cuisines.

Cooking as an art

Presentation is everything. Food that looks good, tastes better. We are talking about fruit slices and icing on cakes, truffle flakes on desserts, puree at the side of a main dish, and fruit carvings on platters. Upon learning how to cook a scrumptious meal, students will learn the skills to give that final touch of plating and decorating. This is especially important for students who are looking into having a career in baking – think beautiful cakes and muffins!

Healthy cooking

Chefs are held accountable to their consumers to put together a balanced meal. While everyone loves a good meal, not everyone is keen on eating something too oily, too fattening, or too high in cholesterol – they want a healthy meal as well! Chefs are also responsible for the restaurant’s cleanliness. Food poisoning is to be prevented at all cost. Thus, students studying culinary arts will learn the importance of kitchen and personal hygiene; what consists of a balanced diet, food hygiene management; kitchen management; and diet and nutrition among others.

Cooking as a team

Cooking is seldom a one-man show in a professional kitchen (especially in big hotels and restaurants). Some will be busy perfecting the main course, and others, the desserts. Those who are off cooking duty will have to serve and attend to customers. Therefore, a team is needed in the kitchen and another team is also needed outside the kitchen doors. Hence, students will learn how to work in a team and how to manage a team of cooks and business associates, as well as patrons and customers.

Cooking as a business

Many who venture into culinary arts are looking towards owning their own bakery, restaurant, or brand of food. To achieve such a goal, one must acquire relevant entrepreneurial and business skills. Hence, students studying culinary arts will be taught restaurant skills and supervision, business operations, marketing management, finance and accounting, and more specific business electives.

Cooking as a cultural adventure

While some prefer to focus on a specialised style of cooking, others seek to master different types of food in different places. A good chef is also one who is versatile and is able to cook a variety of cuisines to suit the taste of the people they are serving. Cooking can be a cultural adventure as students learn about the history of a cultural dish in gastronomy and ethnic cooking classes. In some universities, foreign languages courses are available as electives for students who are planning to work in a different country.