Bharat SainiLast Updated on October 22, 2019 by Bharat Saini
Whether you’re eyeing a culinary school, pastry school, or considering diving straight into a restaurant kitchen, there are certain important considerations that every aspiring culinary student should know. The following points will guide you through the key aspects of becoming a successful culinary professional.
1. A Professional Course vs. Direct Entry into a Restaurant’s Kitchen
A professional course enables students to build connections, develop skills, and gain insights that are hard to acquire independently. Students are exposed to industry practices, expectations, and networking opportunities that help shape their career path by enrolling in a culinary course from a reputed hospitality institute. For example, the Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), one of the best culinary schools in India, offers an ideal blend of theory, practical training, and industry interaction. Throughout the program, guest lectures by culinary experts give students valuable industry insights, allowing them to build relationships and gain a competitive edge.
While direct entry into a kitchen may offer hands-on experience from day one, formal education provides a broader scope of knowledge and opportunities, helping students grow into well-rounded professionals.
2. Opportunities Beyond Being a Chef
Contrary to popular belief, a culinary arts student’s career isn’t confined to becoming a chef. ISH, which offers one of the best culinary arts courses in India, helps students explore diverse career paths that go beyond traditional roles. Apart from working in a restaurant, students can pursue opportunities in corporate food service, education, healthcare contract services, gourmet markets, research and development, food media and marketing, and even become culinary instructors.
Each of these career paths comes with its unique challenges and rewards. For instance, a career in food media could involve working on cooking shows or writing for culinary publications. At the same time, research and development roles often focus on creating innovative food products for large corporations.
3. The Imbalance Between New Restaurants and Trained Professionals
The hospitality industry has seen a surge in new restaurants in recent years, yet the supply of trained professionals hasn’t grown at the same rate. This gap creates a high demand for culinary experts who can lead restaurant operations effectively. As a culinary student, this imbalance presents a unique advantage, allowing you to select restaurants that align with your career goals and preferences. Unlike other fields, culinary students today have the privilege of choice when deciding where to apply their skills.
4. Meeting a Diverse Group of People
One of the most exciting aspects of enrolling in a top culinary arts college in India is the diversity it attracts. Culinary schools draw students from different backgrounds and life experiences, creating a melting pot of cultures and perspectives. You will meet individuals with corporate experience, people shifting from entirely different industries and young students who are passionate about the culinary arts. This diversity enhances your learning experience and expands your network, opening doors to opportunities you may have yet to consider.
5. Handling Stressful Situations
A restaurant kitchen is an intense environment where time management, precision, and organization are critical. Whether meeting strict health standards, using the freshest ingredients, or ensuring that each dish is of high quality, the kitchen often runs on a tight schedule. This level of stress can be overwhelming for newcomers. However, culinary schools provide the necessary preparation by teaching students to thrive under pressure. Hands-on training teaches students how to stay composed and maintain quality even during the busiest of services.
6. You Don’t Have to Like Everything You Make, But You Do Have to Try It
In culinary arts, taste is everything. No matter how appealing a dish looks, its success hinges on its taste. Even if you dislike certain ingredients or dishes, you must be willing to taste them. This experience sharpens your palate and helps you understand how flavors work together. Culinary students need to develop this ability because it directly impacts the quality of the dishes they prepare. Good chefs know the importance of tasting their food to ensure it meets the highest flavor standards.
7. Simple Tasks Take Time to Master
Certain tasks like chopping vegetables or mastering a perfect sauce might look simple, but they often take weeks or even months to perfect. While culinary schools provide the foundational knowledge and tools, it is up to the students to practice until they achieve mastery. Developing the right knife skills or learning to make the perfect reduction requires dedication; culinary school is just the beginning. Continuous practice is essential to reaching the necessary expertise in a professional kitchen.
8. The Kitchen Can Be Intense
In a restaurant, you’re expected to work quickly and efficiently. Tasks such as chopping vegetables or reducing sauces require skill and speed. Kitchens can be hot, intense, and exhausting, with long hours on your feet and high-pressure environments. You’ll often encounter difficult situations—whether it’s a demanding guest or a particularly complicated dish to prepare. The ability to handle these challenges gracefully requires mental and physical resilience. Culinary school teaches you how to handle such stress, but the experience in a real kitchen is where you’ll truly refine your abilities.
9. Endless Learning
Culinary arts constantly evolve, and learning doesn’t stop once you graduate. ISH, recognized as one of the best culinary colleges in India, emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning. New techniques, trends, and technologies in the food industry emerge regularly, so it’s important to keep updating your skills. Whether experimenting with molecular gastronomy, understanding the latest sustainability practices, or mastering new kitchen equipment, staying curious and open to learning will keep you ahead of the curve. This commitment to growth separates an average cook from a culinary genius.
10. Patience is Key
One of the most important virtues a culinary student must develop is patience. Even simple processes like caramelizing onions or reducing a sauce to the right consistency can take time. Rushing through steps can lead to mistakes, resulting in ruined dishes. Patience allows you to perfect your craft, ensuring that every dish is prepared with care and attention. Speed is important, but so is knowing when to let things take their time. Culinary school teaches the balance between speed and precision, but mastering patience is something only time and experience can fully develop.
