We can see them on the Food Network every day. On TV, social media, and F&B
establishment. They sail around their kitchens making quick work of fabulous
recipes. In no time, they’ve whipped up three or four dishes that look so appetising
you can almost smell them through the TV. As thoughts like “I can do that too”
wondering in your mind, you begin dreaming about the glory of becoming a
professional chef or master chef. Can you, do it? Are you a professional chef
material?
Like all things, obtaining the title of a master chef takes time and require formal
training, hands-on experience and need lots of time to cultivate your skillsets,
technique and bring your skills to the level of a professional chef or being a master
chef.
That means culinary school and an apprenticeship or externship may be necessary
as part of your training. Nothing compared to hard work to craft out your special skills
with time.
It is also very important to create your profile, portfolio and build your vast network in
all media channels to build your name as a master chef.
No one is born a master chef, one needs to dream, work hard and be smart to
achieve the goal.
From my observations of some of the more successful chefs around the world one
who have attended a cooking school and reached the level of Executive Chef or
Master Chef, the first two traits that stand out are hard work and creativity.
To become a master chef will require dedication to the time and tasks of completing
culinary school, working through an apprenticeship and food-related industry work
attachment, and gaining years of experience through frontline work in restaurants
and food-related activities.
As you build your cooking and baking skills, you’ll incorporate the physical tasks of
working skills, chopping, slicing, mixing and others into the creative tasks of
developing recipes and plating your dishes with unique presentations.
One needs to have a love for food is also needed to be a great master chef. Do you
wonder about how different seasonings and textures, feels, sights and tastes work
together? Are you always experimenting to find new combinations of spices, herbs,
and sauces you may use the old or new methods of cooking that bring out the
flavour of your dishes? This curiosity and love of food will certainly work in your
favour as you strive toward your goal
The result is to develop a multisensory experience of sight, smell and taste that truly
brings pleasure to those who eat and watch what you’ve prepared.
How do you find your identity?
What is your unique selling point?
It is important to have ROAR attitudes during learning and application at work:
- ‘R’ for Resourceful having the ability to find quick and innovative ways to
overcome difficulties - ‘O’ for Open-minded willing to consider new ideas
- ‘A’ for Adaptable able to adjust to new conditions
- ‘R’ for Resilient able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
No pain, no gain so the saying. To achieve greatness, one needs to have a positive
mindset and put in the needed hard work and time, to be a successful master chef in
no time.
People around the world need to eat, love to eat good food. Your good skills in
cooking like a professional or master chef will be highly sorted after.