Questions

Answers ( from the U.K.)

Q.Why did you choose this profession?

A. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Seriously, my family had been in catering for 2 generations and I found I was good at it.

Q.How much does and average chef make an hour?
A. How long's a bit of string? My estimate £7-10( $10-13?)

Q.Are there any benifits to being a chef?
A. Job satisfaction. Self reliance. Varied work. Job security (up to a point)

Q.How long does a chefs career usually last?
A. Depends how hard you work. Busy line chefs 'burn out at 40-45 ( I read that on this board ) but I was being taught by chefs in their 60's. Escoffier was cooking into his 80's I think.

Q.Where did you go to college to become a chef or culinary artist?
A. Westminster Hotel School, London

Q.How many years did you attend college?
A. 3 years full time.

Q.What classes did you have to take in college to become a chef?
A. Cookery practical and theory. Maths,English,French,Hygiene & Nutrition, Food Commodities, Kitchen Organisation, Wines

Q.Where should a "beginner" start their career?
A. A Local restaurant to see if they have the aptitude for kitchens, then college.

Q.What does a "begineer" usually make an hour?
A. Lets say minimum wage, about £4-£4.50 in the U.K.

Q.Are the first years of being a chef hard?
A. The first years are exciting -- it's all new.

Q.How hard is it to find a job as a chef?
A. I've always worked for the family or myself but at the moment there is a big shortage of chefs in the U.K. so finding a job shouldn't be too hard.

Q.When did you realize you wanted to be a chef?
A. At 14 when I joined the girls in Home Economics. 2 boys and 20 girls certainly made it interesting.

Hope this helps

David

Q.Why did you choose this profession?

If you do what you love you never have to work

Q.How much does and average chef make an hour?

It obviously depends on experience and location. Most chefs are salaried and it can range from about $22,000 to ridiculous amounts. A line cook here in Iowa City, with 3 years experience, can make $9.50 to $12.50

Q.Are there any benifits to being a chef?

Far too many to list. Chief among them, for me anyway, is that I get to see other people get as passionate about food as I am.

Q.How long does a chefs career usually last?

Depends on your burn-out threshhold, but it can be a lifetime career.

Q.Where did you go to college to become a chef or culinary artist?

I attended Coe College, where I got a BA, then attended New England Culinary Institute (NECI), where I also taught for a couple years.

Q.How many years did you attend college?

College was 5 years (I'm a little slow) and Culinary school, usually a 2 year program, was 1 year for me. I tested out of the first year and went "advanced placement"

Q.What classes did you have to take in college to become a chef?

Study Business!! Culinary schools tend not to emphasize that aspect enough.

Q.Where should a "beginner" start their career?

At a local, INDEPENDENT restaurant. Stay away from chains, they are the bain of the culinary world.

Q.What does a "begineer" usually make an hour?

Minimum wage, or up to $7.50

Q.Are the first years of being a chef hard?

All the years of being a chef are hard

Q.How hard is it to find a job as a chef?

In this economy, kinda rough. In the local paper today, I see that there are 5 restaurant job postings where once there were 3 columns-worth. But everybody's gotta eat, so there will always be a demand for our talents.

Q.When did you realize you wanted to be a chef?

I always loved to cook, but a visit to Chez Panisse 21 years ago made me realize that it was a true calling.

Hope this helps. Be sure to post your report here!

Peace,
kmf

Q.Why did you choose this profession?
I wanted to apply my cooking ability to something that gives me rewards while I'm doing it instead of just being happy about the paycheck.

Q.How much does and average chef make an hour?
Well, if you're Wolfgang Puck, it's in the millions per year and if you're just starting out, it's way down the pay scale. You've got to start somewhere!

Q.Are there any benifits to being a chef?
You get to eat decent food nearly all the time. You get to feed your family well and lavish your friends with your creations.

Q.How long does a chefs career usually last?
As long as her/his feet and stamina last. Being on your feet all day for up to 16-18 hours, you need a great deal of energy. And even after a chef leaves the kitchen, they're not far from one.

Q.Where did you go to college to become a chef or culinary artist?
Peter Kump's New York Cooking School, New York City.

Q.How many years did you attend college?
My courses were spread over about 2 years because I studied at night after work.

Q.What classes did you have to take in college to become a chef?
My school was devoted to cooking but your question brings up another point...A chef should concentrate on a specialty, if she/he has one. For instance, if your passion is pastry, then you should take pastry courses and concentrate on baking chemistry. If you want to open your own restaurant, you need an intense focus on the management and financial end of a restaurant; if you want to cook for someone else, you can focus on an ethnicity like French or Spanish - whatever type of cuisine you aspire to prepare. I cook many different ethnic cuisines - the only one I took in school was French.

Q.Where should a "beginner" start their career?
First, by going to school, then by apprenticing in a restaurant under someone you trust. Best case scenario - the school can place you in a restaurant where it has an arrangement.

Q.What does a "begineer" usually make an hour?
You don't want to know.

Q.Are the first years of being a chef hard?
Incredibly.

Q.How hard is it to find a job as a chef?
Depends...fine dining positions are hard to come by and the competition is ferocious. Proving yourself is the name of the game. The better reputation you build, the more in demand you become.

Q.When did you realize you wanted to be a chef?
When I realized I enjoyed boiling eggs as a child...there was no turning back.