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What can I do to be a better chef?
is there anything i can do
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8 answers
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Donald’s Answer
In my experiences, I always use Typsy, www.typsy.com, to learn new skills. It's all about multitasking and always taking courses outside of work to upskill.
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Joseph’s Answer
The best way to improve is through experience and exposure. Listening to others and experiencing other foods and cultures. Never be afraid to be creative.
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Jessica’s Answer
Two things: cook more, and eat more.
Spend as much time as possible in the kitchen, practicing your knife skills, and tasting your food as you cook so you can understand how the addition of salt, acid, and other seasonings can change a flavor profile, or how sauteing onions for different lengths of time can change their texture and flavor. I recommend Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything books as great resources to learn the basics (His book The Basics is very illustrated and is what I've used to teach young cooks). When you're a more advanced cook and starting to create your own recipes, there's a fantastic resource, The Flavor Bible, that is basically just lists of all the ingredients that complement certain ingredients. It's a good resource for getting creative with ingredient pairings.
And, as budget allows, try to eat out a lot. Go to fancy restaurants, hole-in-the-walls, international restaurants, and really pay attention to preparation, plate presentation, and taste and texture. You could even keep a little notebook to jot down notes about what you're eating.
Spend as much time as possible in the kitchen, practicing your knife skills, and tasting your food as you cook so you can understand how the addition of salt, acid, and other seasonings can change a flavor profile, or how sauteing onions for different lengths of time can change their texture and flavor. I recommend Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything books as great resources to learn the basics (His book The Basics is very illustrated and is what I've used to teach young cooks). When you're a more advanced cook and starting to create your own recipes, there's a fantastic resource, The Flavor Bible, that is basically just lists of all the ingredients that complement certain ingredients. It's a good resource for getting creative with ingredient pairings.
And, as budget allows, try to eat out a lot. Go to fancy restaurants, hole-in-the-walls, international restaurants, and really pay attention to preparation, plate presentation, and taste and texture. You could even keep a little notebook to jot down notes about what you're eating.
Updated
Saska’s Answer
Your already making the first step, you are open to self improvement. A good chef has work ethic and is always striving to be perfect. Never be afraid to go back to the basics. Make sure you emphasize cleandliness, and organize your workflow. Also, don't be afraid to crack open a book. Find a great cookbook you like cooking out of. Cook with precision and as you grow you will find small creative improvements to your recipes, which will be really good for your development.
Go find your recipes.
Saska recommends the following next steps:
Anthony Ewing
Restaurant Manager, Asst Restaurant Manager, Bar Manager/Owner/Operator
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Anthony’s Answer
In order to be a successful chef, it is important to be knowledgeable about every facet of the restaurant that employs you and the clientele that is served within it. With that said, I would suggest spending a month or so becoming familiar with every facet of the FOH, especially serving the guests and taking care of every detail of their dining experience from entry to exit EXCEPT for preparing the menu and the meal that your guests decide on eating for their meals. Get to know the know them and allow them to know you. Tell them what you are doing at every step. Let them know that you are the chef, and that you are seeking to familiarize yourself with the loyal customer base that you will be cooking for in the future. Ask them questions, learn their personal preferences. This will nonchalantly invite them into feeling like a special part of your growth process and will allow them to feel like that have invested in you and in the dining experience in the same way that you have chosen to invest in theirs by coming out to learn of the many things you can choose to do when you return to your natural post as their chef in order to make them continue to feel especially important and honored as your special guests whenever they return to enjoy your cooking.
Establishing relationships with the loyal guests is a MUST for a chef, but, the most important thing about this exercise is to gain an understanding of what the servers are experiencing in the FOH. Being blind to why they continually request items that may annoy you as chef can ruin a shift on bad days. Being cognizant of the fact that the service staff would rather do ANYTHING other than bother you for another side of au jus, ranch dressing, or extra croutons is a key to keeping the peace between BOH and FOH. I promise you. It is important that you, as chef, know how hard the servers work and that they ask you ONLY because the guests have asked them. Just make it happen for them as quickly as possible, and if you make them feel less guilty for asking, they will really appreciate you and you will reap the respectful and beneficial outcome for all involved. Well, aside from food costs...
If the FOH knows that you are capable to do their job on one shift and chef the next, you will establish a respectful and helpful camaraderie that will greatly benefit the whole staff, will effect the bottom line by way of the great communication of the staff, and will make the establishment a much more comfortable and inviting dining experience for all guests, and working experience for all employees concerned. And it can be done ALL by the sacrificial desire for all-around competency by the multi talented chef extraordanaire.
Anthony recommends the following next steps:
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Charnelle’s Answer
Hello,
Thank you for your question I think a good idea is taking cooking classes and learning from professional. That’s my advice to you. Also watching cooking shows is so useful. Best of luck!
Thank you for your question I think a good idea is taking cooking classes and learning from professional. That’s my advice to you. Also watching cooking shows is so useful. Best of luck!
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Benjamin’s Answer
Hey there Kenneth,
Once you have learned the basic techniques (saute, Roast, poach, braise etc.) Learn how to taste and analyze what is happening with what you have made. You must understand how to create a balance of flavors with acidic foods, fatty foods, earthy foods, vegetables, sauces and so on. Taste everything that you make. Practice your craft and ask questions to those with more experience.
Once you have learned the basic techniques (saute, Roast, poach, braise etc.) Learn how to taste and analyze what is happening with what you have made. You must understand how to create a balance of flavors with acidic foods, fatty foods, earthy foods, vegetables, sauces and so on. Taste everything that you make. Practice your craft and ask questions to those with more experience.
Updated
Howard’s Answer
Work with good people and chefs. Take classes and or read to learn more about cooking and kitchens. Practice, practice practice..
You do not get better by doing something one time. Repeat your skills and get better each time you do them. I hope this helps you. Good luck.
You do not get better by doing something one time. Repeat your skills and get better each time you do them. I hope this helps you. Good luck.