Chefs – Masters Of The Kitchen

Before you can call the shots in the kitchen you need to have put in the hours. Chefs aren’t created overnight. Hours of hard work, dedication and exhaustion need to be clocked up before you can run your own kitchen. The job opportunities for chefs are good, but are even better if you have post post–secondary training. Being a chef is varied and interesting and, once qualified, you could specialise in a number of different areas.

Chefs generally plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities and will plan and prepare speciality foods. They are employed in restaurants, hotels, hospitals and other similar areas. There are various types of chefs:

• Executive chefs plan and direct food preparation. They will also be in charge of planning menus, ensure food meets quality standards, estimate food requirements and labour costs. They will also supervise all the activities of sous-chefs, specialists chefs and cooks. They recruit and hire staff and they may prepare and cook on a regular basis or for special guests and functions.
• Sous-chefs supervise activities of specialist chefs, chefs, cooks and other kitchen workers and they demonstrate new cooking techniques and new equipment to cooking staff. They may plan menus, requisition food and kitchen supplies.
• Chefs and specialist chefs prepare and complete meals, banquets or speciality foods, such as pastries, sauces, soups, salads, vegetables, meat, poultry and fish dishes. They instruct cooks in preparation, cooking, garnishing and presentation of food.

The Prue Leith Chefs Academy is a prestigious cooking school that was established over 13 years ago with the purpose of producing world-class chefs. Our curriculum is based on the classic French tradition and we include contemporary cooking modules that cover Pan-African cuisine, the Spice Route and a finance module.

We are dedicated to producing chefs that are equipped with the skills and know-how to cope in the extremely demanding culinary world. Contact Prue Leith Chefs Academy to find out more about our chefs courses.