Things needed to be a good chef..

[Salliem]

Trust~in yourself and the people around you, if you can't trust the people who work with/for you, then you're in trouble
Desire~ to do the best **** job possible no matter what it takes, i.e. working long hours
Passion~to create and execute the food for not only the palate but the eyes
Ability~to go with the flow..be flexible..

In the 28 years that I have been in the restaurant business I have self trained myself by asking questions, watching...at one restaurant when there was a trainer program available I learned how to do all the positions (grill, saute,fry, cold side, cutting fish) as a result I became assistant kitchen manager. It just depends on what you want, I want to be the best I can be..I can step into anyone's shoes in the restaurant I currently work and do their job as well as my own.

[panini]

I trhink the word passion is so overused, and a little feminine for my taste. Maybe drive, for me. Work is something I do to receive monies so that I may enjoy my other life away from work. Chrose has it, a chef is someone who has matured in the kitchen. They have the drive to learn and be mature enough to become a conduit between the things they learn and those around him.
The most important thing a chef carries on his back is his customers. You must please them, defend them (don't let anyone short-change them), educate them, understand them, and praise them for choosing your skills over others. A customer can get good food anywhere. A chef has achieved his or her goals when the customer comes for the " dining experience".
As a customer, I can be having the highest quality food, if I don't understand the chefs personality/ style, it's just another good meal, not an experience.
This applies to all food. When a customer asks you to pick a flavor of cake that will compliment this or that, or if they make sure your label is on the box so the recipient knows where it is from, I think they understand you and your skills.
Just my 3 cents.
pan

[Jayme]

Baka-
Can you see how passionate food people are? These replies are wonderful!

I would say you definately have to at least "like" what you are doing to be a chef. You do need good people skills- as you will have a variety of personalities and backgrounds working in your kitchen with you. You have to be committed to learn- optimal costs and varieties of cooking techniques aren't something you are going to just figure out on your own. Obviously a sense of taste- but be open to the fact that you may required to prepare items you don't even like the taste of, you just have to know how it is supposed to taste, and be able to achieve it. I guess I would say the difference I have seen in people who just "work" in the industry and people who "are" the industry is their heart- if you are a "foodie person" (my terminology- call us what you wish), you are different from the mainstream. Foodie people are giving- we seek to feed others, to give them enjoyment from our work. I think THAT is why some are just a "chef" and some are concidered masters or leaders in the industry. You have to find your own place in it.
My opinion for what it's worth.....

[mlansing]

Originally Posted by Baka`

sorry if this has been discussed before... and sorry for my english
You can say im a a 17 years old chef-wannabe (so young compared to ppl around here no?)
i'm not a cooking freak, im just really happy if someone said that my food is delicious and i heard that the $$$ is good
but.. is that reason is enough to be a chef? do i have what it takes to be a good chef?
what is needed to be a good chef?
like a sense of taste ? or a strong hand
thx

You have to love it and enjoying as every job. You sound enthusiastic which is a good sign. The money? it depends how hard you work. Why don't you try it. Try to get a part time job as a kitchen helper and experience it by yourself. (That's what I did when I was 15)

Good luck