Chef as a Career Option

Cooking is absolutely an art and the saying is also true that - it’s not every one’s cup of tea. Some one who is really qualified in is good at it; holds a bright future as a chef in hotel industry.

With the boom in hotel industry, a lot of hot opportunities are now up for grabs for trained and experienced chefs. Chef is a French term and is referred to professional cooks.

Today Cooking is more than an activity which is confined to traditional kitchen. Of late, it has grown into and has established itself as a high flying career option for many youngsters who possess an inborn love for an art called cooking.

The skills of a chef today have become very modern and now combine passion, creativity and hard work for the art of cooking.To cater to the ever–growing market and demand for professional and competent chefs, a plethora of courses in food processing, catering technology and other relevant areas are being offered by different institutions.

Generally the hierarchy in this career is something of this nature

• Executive Chef - Usually he is in control of every thing inside the kitchen including menu creation, personal management and business aspects.

• Sous Chef - He is the assistant chef and looks after menu-planning, costing and ordering.

• Expeditor - They usually see that the food is served to the waiters in time to be simultaneously put on all orders.

• Cooks and Assistants - They are assigned specific duties inside the kitchen. Usually a person starts from Commi3, then Commi 2, Commi 1, Demi-chef-de -partie and Chef-de-partie. As Chef-de-partie the person is usually made in charge of one section, like Chinese, French, Italian, Continental, Banquet, Pastry etc.

Chef Eligibility Criteria

Qualification: Minimum qualification needed to opt for a career as chef is 10+2. There are many certificates and diplomas courses in this field. Bachelor of Hotel management also trains student for this profession. Duration of certificate courses is six months to one year. Bachelor and diploma courses are of three to two year respectively.

Personal attributes: An inborn love for first-class food is the primary pre requisite. Additionally, one must have an experimental bent of mind and the inquisitiveness to know the chemistry of different food ingredients.

One should possess through knowledge about different variety of food and cuisine and how they are cooked, prepared anf finally presented to the guests. He should posses an outgoing and friendly personality and also an ability to work in a team.

Chef Job Prospects

After completion of a diploma or the certificate course in Hotel Management, one can join a hotel as an intern or can opt for apprenticeship after 10+2 directly.

A trained chef has many employment avenues which are varied and interesting.Hotels/ restaurants, air catering, food processing companies, catering in confectioneries, cruise liner and corporate catering all require chefs.

One can dabble in the area of food writing like Ms. Tarla Dalal. One can go for entrepreneurship by going it the way of food chains or preparing food that is ready to eat a.l.a M.T.R. It is closely linked with the tourism industry which is already on the upswing.

With the socio-cultural changes that Indians have experiencing eating out has become popular like never before. Overall a chef’s career is very promising and rewarding.

Chef Pay Package

Usually after completing the diploma or the bachelor's course, graduates are usually absorbed as trainees. After successful completion of training, they may be absorbed in positions with salaries range between Rs 7,000 to Rs 10, 000. As one gains experience in the field, he / she can expect higher pay- package coupled with excellent life-style.

Chef Institutes/Universities

 
Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (17 centres located in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Chennai, Goa, Gurdaspur, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram).

• Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition

Veer Savarkar Marg
Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028
Tel No: (022) 2445 7241/42, 2446 9152, 2446 9143
Fax: (022) 2444 9779
E-mail: mumcat@vsnl.com
Website: http://www.ihmctan.edu/

• Indian Institute of Hotel Management (run by the Taj Group of Hotels) Aurangabad

Dr Rafiq Zakaria Campus, Rauza Bagh
Aurangabad,Maharashtra
Phone-No: 0240–238 1113, 0240–2381127
Fax: 0240–2381104
Email: enquiry@ihmaurangabad.ac.in
Website: www.ihma.ac.in, www.ihmaurangabad.ac.in

• The India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC)

MPDC Centre
C-12/A, Qutab Instutional Area
New Delhi - 110016Telefax: 26961844
E-mail: mpdc@nda.vsnl.net.in
Website: http://tourism.gov.in

• The Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Management

Manipal, Karnataka, offers a degree level graduate programme.
WGSHA, Valley View International
Manipal - 576104
Ph: 0820 2571101
Fax: 2571327
Email: office.wgsha@manipal.edu
Website: www.manipal.edu

• Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology

(Approved by AICTE and affilited to GGS Indraprastha University)
Chandiwala Estate
Maa Anandmai Marg
Kalkaji, New Delhi-110019
Ph: 6826205
Fax: 91-11-6826231
Website: www.chandiwalaestate.com
Email: hm@chandiwalaestate.com

• The Oberoi School of Hotel Management

offers a 3-year Diploma course to graduates from any discipline.

Oberoi School of Hotel Management
7 Shamnath Marg
near ISBT,New Delhi
Ph +91-11-2389 0505
Email: careers@eih-india.com
Website: www.oberoihotels.com

• National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology

Library Avenue
Pusa Complex
New Delhi - 110 012
Ph: 011- 5787411, 5732429
Website: http://www.nchmct.org/

• Delhi Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology

Behind Lady Sri Ram College
Lajpat Nagar IV
Ph: 26435883
Fax: 26422174

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

Offers 4 years Bachelor of Hotel Management & Catering Technology

• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University

Kashmere Gate
Delhi - 110006, India
Tel.: 23900166, 23900167, 23900168, 23900100
Fax: 23865941, 23900111
Email:akgupta@ipu.edu
Website: http://www.ipu.ac.in

• Lakshya Bhartee Institute of International Hotel Management

B- 98, Pushpanjali  Enclave
Outer Ring Road
Pitampura, Delhi 110034
Ph: 55155113
Fax: 27011495
Email: info@lbiihm.com

• New Delhi YMCA offers one year Diploma in Hotel & Catering Management

Jai Singh Road
New Delhi-110001
Telephone: 0091-11-23361915, 3746668
Fax: 0091-11-23746035
E-mail: ymcand@del3.vsnl.net.in
Website: http://www.newdelhiymca.org

• Rai University

A- 41, MCIE, Mathura Road
New Delhi - 110044
Tel: 011- 41560000, 41570000.26991300, 32409738
Mobile: 9810146504, 9810299522
Fax: (011) 2695 9999
Contact Person
Mahesh Kapoor
Email : mahesh.kapoor@chat.edu.in

• Anand Institute of Management Science (AIMS)

Vidyanagar-Vadtal Road
Behind SP University Maidan
Near Charotar Gas
Dist: Anand
Bakrol-388 315, Gujarat
Phone:02692-239246, 02692-239247,(M) 09374639738
Email:info@aims.ac.in
Website: http://www.aims.ac.in