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Young chefstudent in doubt about carrer

3K views 25 replies 12 participants last post by  chef brah 
#1 ·
Hello chefs

I'm a young chefstudent at 20 year, working at one of the worlds best Michelin restaurant in copenhagen. It's really good, nice, learning and such but... I feel like i don't have a passion for food (maybe i never had).

Saturday was bad night for many. The students gets the fault primary i feel like. I got numbers to remember from a chef and then i do my thing. Around 5-10 min between numbers like 4x, 6x, 2x. (i remember, but some how they don't got enough at pass, when called)

What should i do? Keep getting yelled at, being miserable or.

In my sparetime i live alone, sleeping long, started to train, playing lots of computer with brother and Friend to keep contact. We play a lot. Don't knoe what to be :-(
 
#2 ·
Chef Thomas Keller has said he doesn't like the word "passion" when applied to cooking because it's absurd to think you're passionate about it all the time.  I think committed is a better term (mine, not his).  The kitchen is a lot of work and there often isn't much reward for it save the satisfaction of doing something you love.  If you don't love it then maybe make a switch to something else while you're still young.
 
#4 ·
That's a lot to process all at once!  I dunno; we get caught up in the old sayings "do what you love and the money will follow" and "follow your passion and you'll never work a day in your life".  But is that realistic?  There are 168 hours in a  week.  Generally I work 60 of them.  Do I love it?  Sometimes.  Is it what I live for, the thing I'm on the planet to do?  That's a lot to ask of a job!  How do you want to spend your life?  Will you live to work or work to live?  It's easy to let your job become your whole life when you're a chef, in part because it's what they call an "ego investment job" meaning a job that defines you and who you are.  For example, a Navy SEAL is a SEAL all the time.  A doctor is a doctor all the time.  A cop likely thinks of herself as a cop even when she's not at work.

Maybe another thing to contemplate is what makes you happy.  If you won the lottery and didn't have to work what would you do?

Again, it's asking a lot of your job or career to provide not only money to live on but happiness and a reason to exist!  I love being a chef (most of the time...maybe not this week but most weeks) but it's not all I am.
 
#5 ·
But how do i find out what i love to do?
I like to make food, but also i don't feel like thr other guys at work. They really love it, you can tell.

How do i tell my family and friends?
How do i find out what to do after?
Sounds like your family is an important part of your life.

Ask them these questions.

It is not like you have to completely cut off your arm because of a hangnail.

No rushing... open a dialog and then allow everyone to speak then listen.

See if there is something there to salvage.

mimi
 
#6 ·
I talked to my mom and she told me , that i should be at this restaurant to summer or something and then try something new, something like a small restaurant in small citites and such. 

Maybe i try that.

I have absoulut no idea what i should do i my life. Being salesman , professional pc player or taking a gym and working in IKEA.

If i won the lottery , i would buy my brother/family/bestfriend what they needed (most) , then i would like to travel around the world and see new places. 
 
#7 ·
take a step back

go try working in a real restaurant with real food and real people

and with time off to have a live beside your professional career

being 20 and working your as off in a restaurant as your in now can be to much if youre not obsessed

i've been there on your age so i know what i'm talking about
 
#8 ·
Sooo.. take a step back.. start working at a Inn outside town for a while. Learn all the basisc and such ?

My mom told me to wait a bit and see what happens. So maybe leave the michelin restaurant to summer and then write to a inn or small restaurants outside the capital city and try something new / slow paced ?

but i still don't know if i want to be a chef. I love to see peoples faces when telling them the dishes and such , but i'm not that smart like the others.
 
#9 ·
my parents owned a 1 michelin star restaurant

so they wanted me to take internships in posh restaurants,preferably 2 star restaurants where i could learn the ropes

hoping off course i would resume my career in there restaurant

i found out the 85 hour work week and the beating in the kitchen and the disrespect from the headchefs that came with it wasnt my thing so i left this whole delusional world

take some time off

let everything get quiet(including your mom)

listen to your heart

go!

(i am now owner of my own restaurant,low profile but its totally the anarchitic me)
 
#10 · (Edited)
I talked to my mom and she told me , that i should be at this restaurant to summer or something and then try something new, something like a small restaurant in small citites and such.

Maybe i try that.

I have absoulut no idea what i should do i my life. Being salesman , professional pc player or taking a gym and working in IKEA.

If i won the lottery , i would buy my brother/family/bestfriend what they needed (most) , then i would like to travel around the world and see new places.
If I won the lottery.....

I would open a bar and grill and invite you to piddle in the kitchen all day long.

But I don't see it happening.

Turn off the game console...open your windows and air out your apt.

Take some walks.

Exercise can be cathartic.

mimi
 
#11 ·
Well you are in Denmark. The mecca of modern cuisine, possibly are working at a place which many of us can only dream of working or even stepping through the door. You are most likely learning and doing modern cooking techniques and learning excellent skills in like you say is a Michelin star restaurant. 

In my opinion, if you do not enjoy, feel right and home in a kitchen, you should switch careers. And since you are so young, you have so much time to figure out what youd like to do. It'll come to you naturally. 

But if you like being in a kitchen and working with you hands, perhaps you could look in to a different branch in the culinary industry. Or focus on a certain skill within the industry and be the best at it so people hire you just for that skill. I think its super important. A buddy of mine sucked in cooking. He had the worse flavor profile and he knew it but was Excellent with his knife. He used the knife like his hand. So he became a butcher.. Now hotels pay him big coin to butcher and age meat. 
 
#12 ·
Trust me... I learn so much. I just need to remember it, have it in my blood and such. Muscle memory.

Today was "okey" except my brain i wasn't connected. My head wss in another space.

Now i will go home, sleep and come bsck tomorow fresh and ready.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Maybe you love to cook, but you aren´t in the right setting. 

Maybe working and mass producing modern food isn´t your thing. 

To be honest though, you should really step out of the apartment, and start doing other things in your free time. 

Take walks, go to food events, eat out more, excercise, read. 

Make time for yourself. 

I know that working in high end places can be stressful and time consuming. Now do you think this job is worth it?

Working in maybe a simpler setting a bistro, café, or small place with few tables can have you working less hours, have you living life a bit more while still pursuing a culinary career. 

I love food, it´s what i want to do the rest of my life, but i´m not willing for example, to sacrifice my family over it. I have a little sister with 2 months and i plan on seeing her grow up, i have a nice family and i want to have time for them too, i like going out, eating out in great places, having free time etc. Things i wouldn´t generally have working in high end kitchens. 

Where does your passion lie? Where would you like to cook? What food and cuisine interests you? What setting interests you?

There´s more to cooking then just modern high end cuisine and fast paced enviroments, im sure you will find you niche. 
 
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#14 · (Edited)
But how do i find out what i love to do?
I like to make food, but also i don't feel like thr other guys at work. They really love it, you can tell.

How do i tell my family and friends?
How do i find out what to do after?
You should see how many young professionals are leaving office corporate jobs and pursue their passion but most dont have talent or skill set required to enter field of arts such as culinary or photography or acting.

If you think about what other professions might be 'passion' driven, the search field will narrow down.

If you can make decent money being a chef, I think its a great place to be ...the food culture is also becoming very mainstream and this can be seen by huge growth in media on food tv shows targeted for young millennials...you have good opportunity to be recognised beyond your industry and probably own your own food business one day.

my point being...cooking is the last meritocracy left in this world and trust me..i have worked in all sorts of industries from IT to marketing to sales...and those are soulless careers...so if you look for what you would love to do...it will be tough.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Maybe you love to cook, but you aren´t in the right setting.

Maybe working and mass producing modern food isn´t your thing.

To be honest though, you should really step out of the apartment, and start doing other things in your free time.

Take walks, go to food events, eat out more, excercise, read.

Make time for yourself.

I know that working in high end places can be stressful and time consuming. Now do you think this job is worth it?

Working in maybe a simpler setting a bistro, café, or small place with few tables can have you working less hours, have you living life a bit more while still pursuing a culinary career.

I love food, it´s what i want to do the rest of my life, but i´m not willing for example, to sacrifice my family over it. I have a little sister with 2 months and i plan on seeing her grow up, i have a nice family and i want to have time for them too, i like going out, eating out in great places, having free time etc. Things i wouldn´t generally have working in high end kitchens.

Where does your passion lie? Where would you like to cook? What food and cuisine interests you? What setting interests you?

There´s more to cooking then just modern high end cuisine and fast paced enviroments, im sure you will find you niche.
Hi kk.

Good to see you my friend.

mimi
 
#17 ·
When I started I hated the kitchen too, I mean who likes being shouted at and disrespected ? I was oldest in the kitchen and at the lowest position,  I did push through it and today, many, many years latter I am not sorry I stuck it out. I know how you feel brother believe me but only you have an answer to the big question . I would say give yourself a time limit and see, maybe change a setting. I never worked in Michelin stared kitchen but I can imagine the abuse....If you stay believe me one day you will be proud to be a member of such an elite club. Good luck!
 
#18 ·
Mate, being in a kitchen is shit, but it's also one of the best most rewarding experiences you will ever have, that pint and *** after a full service and 12-16 hours work is well worth it, imagine the bordem of working in retail or something!! Nothing else quite captures that buzz and creativity!! although starting in Michelen star places is a bit extreme and I feel this way you don't actually learn how too cook,making beetroot foam and what not! It doesn't have to be perfectly placed to be amazing, flavour and quality food, come in all shapes and sizes. I went on to a small refined dining restaurant after college, and within a year I have learnt how to run nearly every section in a kitchen! I have a mate who went straight into fine dining Michelen level and has only made the same salads for a year! It's something like 2% of the industry is fine dining and there is alot of fun and a lot of decent food to learn about outside of that!!
 
#20 ·
Mate, being in a kitchen is shit, but it's also one of the best most rewarding experiences you will ever have, that pint and *** after a full service and 12-16 hours work is well worth it, imagine the bordem of working in retail or something!! Nothing else quite captures that buzz and creativity!! although starting in Michelen star places is a bit extreme and I feel this way you don't actually learn how too cook,making beetroot foam and what not! It doesn't have to be perfectly placed to be amazing, flavour and quality food, come in all shapes and sizes. I went on to a small refined dining restaurant after college, and within a year I have learnt how to run nearly every section in a kitchen! I have a mate who went straight into fine dining Michelen level and has only made the same salads for a year! It's something like 2% of the industry is fine dining and there is alot of fun and a lot of decent food to learn about outside of that!!
a pint? lol.

its never 'a' pint.
 
#21 ·
I was in your exact position at your age at 20.  I went from high school to Culinary school.  I had no clue what I want to do but it was either collage or culinary school that my best friend was going to.  I hate desks/ offices so culinary school it was.  Was working in a restaurant with a crazy angry chef and decided I didn't want my life like that.  Took some firefighting classes and realized where I lived you have to be a paramedic to and chose not to peel people out of car accidents for the next 20 years. On a bad day I burn something, that's it.  Kept cooking,  the stock market crashed,  my friends lost their jobs and life was unsure.  That's when I truly appreciated the job I fell into.  People eat everyday around the world.  There are so many side professions to chose from you can have a good life if you are willing to work hard.  Now if you are a super smart computer programmer and can make a shitlaod of money with out putting time, sweat, heart, and soul into it.  Take the money, run,  and throw some of those dinner parties like you see on food network.  I cook on yachts now,  kind of ironic I was taking firefighting classes today for my coast guard certifications.  Going to bed tonight with a smile on my face,  I like the chefs life
 
#22 ·
I have been working since I was 18 in restaurants.... OMG thats 33 years now. I have been a chef 27 of those 33 years..... Was a chef/owner of 3 cafes for 22 years and  now a private chef for a high profile athlete (12 years)........I have said to myself "F this job" at least 3-4 times a year EVERY YEAR! This is a very hard business and its not for everyone. Long hours, lots of stress, working nights, weekends, holidays etc.

What I suggest to really find out if this career is for you, is get out of the fine dining restaurant. The pressure in places like that is off the chart. Ive been there. Screaming, plates and pans flying in the kitchen. etc.

Find a nice everyday restaurant to work in. With real people to work with and real food. An everyday restaurant is a place people eat 'Everyday" compared to the "special occasion" places. Its less stressful and a slower pace place may give you more clarity if you want to keep moving forward down the road of being a chef or just get off the road all together.

I went to a chef school in San Francisco back in 1990. I graduated with 33 other people. I keep in touch with many and out of my class of 34 students, only 6-8 people are still in the business. Its not for everyone. You will figure it out 
 
#23 ·
What I suggest to really find out if this career is for you, is get out of the fine dining restaurant. The pressure in places like that is off the chart. Ive been there. Screaming, plates and pans flying in the kitchen. etc.

Find a nice everyday restaurant to work in. With real people to work with and real food. An everyday restaurant is a place people eat 'Everyday" compared to the "special occasion" places. Its less stressful and a slower pace place may give you more clarity if you want to keep moving forward down the road of being a chef or just get off the road all together.

You will figure it out
This is the advice that trancends all careers.

Advice I would write on my mirror in red lipstick and read everyday...

mimi
 
#26 · (Edited)
I was in your exact position at your age at 20. I went from high school to Culinary school. I had no clue what I want to do but it was either collage or culinary school that my best friend was going to. I hate desks/ offices so culinary school it was. Was working in a restaurant with a crazy angry chef and decided I didn't want my life like that. Took some firefighting classes and realized where I lived you have to be a paramedic to and chose not to peel people out of car accidents for the next 20 years. On a bad day I burn something, that's it. Kept cooking, the stock market crashed, my friends lost their jobs and life was unsure. That's when I truly appreciated the job I fell into. People eat everyday around the world. There are so many side professions to chose from you can have a good life if you are willing to work hard. Now if you are a super smart computer programmer and can make a shitlaod of money with out putting time, sweat, heart, and soul into it. Take the money, run, and throw some of those dinner parties like you see on food network. I cook on yachts now, kind of ironic I was taking firefighting classes today for my coast guard certifications. Going to bed tonight with a smile on my face, I like the chefs life
very interesting

i have slightly similar experience but i never went to culinary school.

i have been in the field of advertising which promised creativity but its become all Tech oriented now and typical corporate slavery structure.....i started off by hosting dinners and cooking for friends from age 20....i was always the guy who ended up cooking in any situation for others......then i started staging at restaurants....recently i got to intern at a michelin restaurant in nyc which completely took my skills and confidence to another level....it was very exhausting but i enjoyed every second of it.

i have experienced lot of unemployment in my time and thinking of saving some and diving into culinary career forever.

u r right that when markets and economies crash, cooking skill will be indispensable..whether u r doing it at a restaurant or in a food truck or at social gatherings.

i think in the end it all comes down to whether u r the kind of person who fits in a kitchen environment.....i hate calm, slacking office culture..i enjoy loud, fire, knives, focus under chaos, crisis management etc...i thrive under chaos.....money is another part which can be managed.
 
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