A chef is a highly skilled and inventive cook who can turn a delicious meal into an artistic presentation. It takes years to become accomplished and known in this field. How to become a Chef: Work in a restaurant during high school for the experience, even if it is in a noncooking position. You will learn what it is like to be on your feet for long hours. Step 2 Ask your guidance counselor if there is a training program in your community for chefs. Step 3 Understand that to be a successful chef in an urban area you must have years of hands-on experience and formal training. Schooling can take four years. See the American Culinary Federation Web site (acfchefs.org) for information about accredited culinary schools, apprenticeships, certification, jobs and related organizations. Step 4 Decide what type of cooking you would like to do and in what type of kitchen you would like to work. Step 5 Realize that an apprenticeship may require you to first work the least-skilled jobs in the kitchen. As you develop skills and further your education, you can advance up the culinary ladder in a larger restaurant by becoming a line chef, sous-chef, head chef, executive chef and, finally, master chef. Pastry chefs follow their own distinct ladder. Step 6 Make certain you will possess the education, experience and skills necessary for your certification as a chef by the American Culinary Federation. A chef is a highly skilled and inventive cook who can turn a delicious meal into an artistic presentation. It takes years to become accomplished and known in this field. How to become a Chef: Work in a restaurant during high school for the experience, even if it is in a noncooking position. You will learn what it is like to be on your feet for long hours. Step 2 Ask your guidance counselor if there is a training program in your community for chefs. Step 3 Understand that to be a successful chef in an urban area you must have years of hands-on experience and formal training. Schooling can take four years. See the American Culinary Federation Web site (acfchefs.org) for information about accredited culinary schools, apprenticeships, certification, jobs and related organizations. Step 4 Decide what type of cooking you would like to do and in what type of kitchen you would like to work. Step 5 Realize that an apprenticeship may require you to first work the least-skilled jobs in the kitchen. As you develop skills and further your education, you can advance up the culinary ladder in a larger restaurant by becoming a line chef, sous-chef, head chef, executive chef and, finally, master chef. Pastry chefs follow their own distinct ladder. Step 6 Make certain you will possess the education, experience and skills necessary for your certification as a chef by the American Culinary Federation. Step 7 Take appropriate business courses if you would like to open your own restaurant eventually or advance to a managerial or executive position.

Lifetime Dream # 91 of my list of 155: I will have a full set of Calphalon cookware, from skillets to pots and oven ware. I will take full advantage of this cookware and its ability to be moved from the stove top to the oven, expanding my culinary talents preparing new and exciting dishes. Completed On: December 25, 2010 Many people know that I have always wanted to be a professional musician as a career. You can see that all over my photo blog and it’s kind of a no-brainer. A close second to that was that I wanted to be a chef. I have always loved watching good cooking shows where you learn how to prepare things that you don’t see every day. I love the grill, I love specialties like desserts and pretty much any challenge I’d love to take on. I walked away from this career path mostly because of the hours and industry. My hat goes off to ANYONE in the restaurant industry, because the hours stink, the stress can be super high, and unless you’re really, really good- the money doesn’t justify what you go through. I still love cooking though, though I don’t do a lot of it. Now that I have these top of the line pots and pans… you can believe that will change! I love the dutch oven in this set, and when making soups and stews in large quantities, this piece of kitchen ware is awesome! I cooked a cheese and pasta stew for the entire week in one hour… and this oven really does an amazing job of keeping temperatures even and level. I have no excuse to not eat well with these pans!