Do you have the ability to create fascinating dishes that keep everyone’s mouth watering? Are you most at home when you are in the kitchen concocting interesting recipes for your friends and family members? Are you not afraid to try new ingredients, spices, or seasonings in order to make your cooking even more delectable? If you answered yes to each of these questions then perhaps a career path in the field of culinary arts will suit your goals and intentions well. Find culinary art programs near you to get started. Depending upon the level of education that you complete, there are many avenues of employment that you will be qualified to pursue.
One employment option that you may want to consider is to work as a sommelier. In this capacity you would work at a high caliber, fine dining restaurant. Your primary responsibility would be to help customers choose a wine that most appropriately compliments their menu choices. If you decide to pursue this type of position, it will be important for you to have an extensive knowledge of many different wines; including their flavors, colors, and distinguishable tastes. Keep in mind, to be successful in this position it generally takes quite a while to learn the different wines that are available and to become well versed in a variety of food choices at a particular restaurant. Or, perhaps you would be better suited to a position as an executive chef. As an executive chef you would be serving in one of the upper level positions, typically second only to the owner of the restaurant. In this position you would be responsible for managing the list of ingredients that are used in the recipes that are available to patrons, for supervising all of the staff at the restaurant, for the majority of all food preparation, and for the planning of the menu that is available. It is not unheard of for the restaurant owner to also serve as the executive chef; therefore, if you plan to own your own restaurant it may be possible for you to handle both positions.
Another possibility for you to think about is working as a sous-chef. It is common for a sous-chef to be the second in command, directly behind an executive chef. Generally speaking, a sous-chef is responsible for handling the front line of the kitchen, which is where the cooks interact with the service employees. Depending upon your specific employment situation, you may be expected to handle ordering the food stock, planning the menu, assisting with special occasions or planned events, preparing specific foods, or maintaining the necessary supplies. Once you have gained relevant experience in one of these positions in the culinary industry it may be possible for you to obtain employment in the education sector. If this interests you, you would spend the majority of your time working to teach aspiring culinary artists the tools and techniques of the trade. Keep in mind, it would likely be possible for you to work in a high school setting or at a post-secondary institution.