What Does It Mean to Be a Cheaf - Research Paper Example

 The Art of Food A Spanish Proverb quotes” the belly rules the mind. Indeed, this is a true statement as people find it difficult to think or decide when they are hungry. More than that, people can also make hurried decisions because their stomach cannot wait any longer. This is the main reason why people must not be hungry when they go shopping. On the serious side, food greatly affects the brain. According to an article published by the University of California (2008), scientists have found out that food affects the brain similar to any drug. Indeed, food is a very creative way to reach out to people through their stomach and minds. For such reasons, the world of culinary arts has attracted my interest for a long time. A career in culinary arts would show me how people can be satisfied by good food; moreover, it takes training and skills to become a culinary expert. Nevertheless, the good salary and the fulfillment of seeing people pleased with their meals are the greatest rewards of a culinary expert. Food can greatly satisfy people, being one of the basic needs. A lot of people find good food as comforting, a balm to the broken heart and weary soul. Recently, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the connection of food to happiness. Remarkably, some results were worth looking into because researchers have found that certain types of substances like DHA ( simply known as Omega 3) can alleviate depression in individuals with highly-stressful situations (Gorman, 2011). In fact, the researcher named Hibbeln has influenced the American Psychological Association to prescribe Omega 3 Fatty food to their mentally ill patients ( p.2). Although this may sound bit extreme to describe the relation of food to happiness, just seeing the smile of satisfied diners would be enough to conclude that food does make us happy. Food promotes over-health as it supports growth and development. For many decades, the US Food Pyramid guide was the yardstick to healthy diet; however, this was discarded in 2005 as the Harvard School of Public Health came up with a new MyPyramid that was fully endorsed by the USDA ( hspa.harvard.edu). Old beliefs such as eggs were bad and that all fats posed health risk were discarded; instead, focus was more on quality of food rather than restrictive calorie-counting. It can be said then that food gives back to people in both ways- positively or negatively. But if people make wise decisions about the food they eat, they can be very healthy. This is where the role of a culinary expert comes in- to prepare healthy and satisfying meals so people can have a better life. Now, that we understand the crucial role that food plays in our daily lives, it is time to focus on how to become a culinary expert. Like any profession, being a culinary expert requires a special set of skills on top of talent and theoretical knowledge. On top of that, years of experience at the kitchen can hone the skills of a culinary enthusiast since mistakes often teach people the best lessons. If one wants to become a culinary expert, the first step is to enroll in Culinary Arts Bachelor’s Degree Program. If this program is not available, the course Hotel and Restaurant Management can be pursued instead. The former’s goal is to produce chefs who can manage their own business; on the other hand, the latter is an over-all approach in managing different aspects of the hospitality industry. It is imperative for a culinary major to acquire the following : cooking skills, food preparation skills, sanitation skills for kitchens, food presentation skills, wine and beverage selection, meal planning and other related skills ( degreedirectory.org). It was aforementioned that the salary of culinary expert is quite high, which is true indeed. However, most fresh graduates would start their career on entry-level position, which means assisting in the kitchen most of the time to acquire more skills and experience. For chefs and head cooks, this is their work description “direct the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts. May participate in cooking.” ( Chefs and Head cooks,35-10111,bls.gov). The Bureau of Labor Statistics has posted its latest career outlook for chefs and head cooks in 2009. Source: U.S. Department of Labor. According to the report: 1. There are roughly 94,300 Chefs and head cooks employed in the U.S. ( this does not include the self-employed ones); 2. The mean hourly wage is $21.27; It must be kept in mind that the hourly wage depends on the state. Metropolitan states and bigger cities offer higher rates due to the high standards of living in such areas. However, the report showed that the lowest salary for these type of jobs are $11.00. Also, almost 50% of the industry is comprised of full-service restaurants and traveler accommodations ( hotels, lodges, etc.) which often need workers. Indeed, the industry is very much alive and competitive as well. It is very important for students of culinary arts to equip themselves with all possible knowledge and skills to gain an advantage over the rest of potential competitors when they graduate. Some students heavily invest in going abroad to places like Switzerland or France for exposure in culinary arts. Interestingly, there are some individuals who work their way to the top by gaining experience from small or medium sized establishments. After having an overview of the industry as well as the requirements needed to become a culinary art practitioner, it would be better to interview someone who is actually a chef. The person that obliged to my request was my sister’s friend who currently works as chef in a ski accommodation in Aspen. She can be called by the name Sonia, who has been a chef for the last 7 years. According to her, her day starts by cleaning the kitchen since she could not work with a cluttered place. She makes sure every item or utensil is in its perfect place. Sonia always makes it a habit to check the quality of fresh meat to make sure that no untoward food contamination problems arise. When everything is clean, she begins checking the list of tasks she has prepared the day ahead especially if it’s a weekend. Surely, many diners would come by so she must anticipate planning for the increased production. On a regular basis, she checks all the ingredients to see what is missing from the inventory. Spices are essential so it is important to have a good stock always. Then, she makes sure that all the food are marinated properly and all the vegetables are cut-up. Most of the time, she gets stressed from planning and dealing with some staff who maybe negligent of their duties. It could be said then that chefs should know how to manage their people because mistakes can cost a lot and reflect on the food service. At the end of the day, Sonia is tired but pleased to her good comments from the diners. But when it comes to financial rewards, Sonia would not divulge her salary but one can see from the model of car she drives- a Porsche. While media presents a glamorous life for chefs in Hell’s Kitchen, students who want to be culinary experts must be fully aware of the responsibilities that come along as a Chef. Graduates can also start their own business but this can be too costly to undertake especially for someone with no experience at all in managing a kitchen. Probably, it having a business such as a restaurant is advisable after one has accumulated enough experience and capital. In conclusion, becoming a culinary expert entails many things- education, training, skills, experience and solid dedication. A culinary expert is passionate about food and understand how it affects people. Individuals who take this path would surely be materially rewarded as long as they continue enriching themselves by learning as much as they can. After all, food is not only the subject of a culinary expert; it is his way of life. Works Cited "Culinary Arts Bachelor's Degree Program." Premier Online Directory of Degree Programs & Career Planning Articles and Videos from Top Colleges and Universities. Degree directory, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. Read More