Other names for a Chef:

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – All about the career of a Chef

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Cafeteria Cooking

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

CLICK HERE

To meet Bonga Ngxingwa – Demi Chef at Nobu Restaurant, Cape Town

What is a Chef?

A Chef usually runs or is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant, hotel, school, hospital, old-aged home, university, cruise ship, resort etc. 

They are in charge of the kitchen staff, preparing menus, ordering supplies and preparing the food.

Chefs work particularly long hours. This profession demands passion and dedication.

CLICK HERE   

To meet Chef, Matt Manning
to learn more about his cooking career

There are different ranks of Chefs:   

• Commis Chef

usually works under a Chef de Partie – preparing food and learning basic cooking skills

• Chef de Partie

is a junior Chef, usually in charge of one aspect of the kitchen like sauces, vegetables, soups, or salads etc

• Demi Chef

also known as a Line Chef – job can be varied – ranging from meal preparation to budgeting to training employees

• Second Chef/Sous Chef

is usually second in command of the kitchen

• Executive Chef

also known as Head Chef is in charge of the kitchen. They manage the kitchen staff, plan menus, work out budgets and pricing and are generally involved in the business side of the establishment as well as the cooking.

What does a Chef do?

• plans menus
• works out pricing
• works out staff rosters/shifts/schedules
• plans food preparations
• orders supplies and keeps stock
• trains other members of kitchen staff
• enforces health and safety regulations
• creates new dishes
• stores food correctly

Are you … ?

• extremely passionate about food?
• willing to work long and unusual hours, including weekends and late at night?
• able to stand for long periods at a time?
• a person with a good sense of taste?
• able to read and write?
• a person with basic mathematical skills?
• a team player?
• able to work under extreme stress?
• good with your hands?
• creative?

How do I become a Chef?

It’s a longer way round, but you could start off as a kitchen hand or dishwasher in a restaurant or hotel. See under Dishwasher  on our website for more details. 

As a dishwasher, the head Chef might notice your hard work and get you to help them in the kitchen. 

From here, you can collect all the skills necessary to become an assistant chef and then work towards becoming a Head Chef.

BASIC CHEF & COOKING COURSES

Many TVET (FET) colleges, Universities of Technology and specialised ‘hospitality’ institutions offer various cooking / chef courses.

For example:

• Assistant Chef  Training
• Professional Cookery Training 
• Hospitality Management: Professional Cookery

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

Other routes to take:

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• Learnership – Professional Cookery NQF Level 2, 3 and 4
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• National Certificate in Food and Beverage Services (NQF Level 2, 3 and 4)
• These can be completed at many TVET (FET) colleges. Check your local college to see what they offer.
• Trade Test

PATH 4

• Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (NQF Level 3)
• Certificate in Food Service Supervision (NQF Level 4)
• Trade Test

PATH 5

• Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (NQF Level 3)
• Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (NQF Level 3)
• Trade Test

PATH 6

• National Certificate: Food Services: N2 and N3
• Workplace experience
• Trade Test

PATH 7

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Chef without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER : Caterer … or … Pastry Chef … or … Baker

Is becoming a Chef the right career choice for me?

Pastry Chefs are in demand!

Here’s a finger-licking, sweet job for you!  If you have a passion for food, particularly pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods, then becoming a Pastry Chef may be the job for you.

They are usually employed in large hotels, in upmarket restaurants and in bakeries.

Some Pastry Chefs work on cruise liners – so, this job, could take you to interesting places around the world!

A Pastry Chef can also be called a confectioner.  Some Pastry Chefs may even consider doing extra training so that they can become chocolatiers as well.

The more training you have, the more employable you will become.

What does a Pastry Chef do?

• meeting and discussing details and plans with the head chef
• planning the menus
• designing, making and tasting new dishes
• keeping stock and ordering stock
• preparing the menu dishes, baking breads and making desserts etc
• researching in cookery books and magazines to get inspired
• constantly upgrading training and experience

Are you … ?

• crazy about food and working with food?
• creative?
• a person with a strong personality?
• a person who has a taste for flavours?
• organised?
• a good communicator?
• good with your hands?
• detail orientated?
• a person who takes pride in their work?
• able to work under extreme stress?
• a team player

How do I become a Pastry Chef?

There are different options to take:

Education and Training Colleges (FET) may offer programmes for specific Trade or Skills: eg. Pastry Chef.

Visit the Career Planet Training Institutions page to find your nearest FET College.

For example: 

• ORBIT FET COLLEGE:

http://www.orbitcollege.co.za/

Private institutions:

• PRUE LEITH:

http://www.prueleith.co.za/article/pastry-chef-courses/#.UFBKViJ4O_0

• CAPSICUM CULINARY SCHOOL:

Offers day courses, part-time and a full time Diplomas in Patisserie
http://www.capsicumcooking.com/courses.htm

• FBI CHEF SCHOOL & PATISSERIE ACADEMY:

Offers a 6 month Diploma in Patisserie and a 1 year Advanced Diploma in Patisserie
http://www.fbichefschool.co.za/full-time-courses/

• SOUTH AFRICAN CHEFS ASSOCIATION:

http://www.saca.co.za/

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Chef and Caterer  

Is becoming a Pastry Chef the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.

Other name for Confectionery Maker:

• Chocolatier

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – A day in the life of Chocolatier, Gareth James

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Confectionery Maker?

A Confectionery Maker is a person who specialises in making chocolates, toffees and other types of sweets.

A Confectionery Maker may also be called confectioners or a chocolatier.

Confectionery Makers usually work in a sweet factories, confectionery boutiques or from home. Home industry Confectionery Makers usually supply speciality shops and delis.

What does a Confectionery Maker do?

• follows recipes accurately
• measures ingredients
• dissolves and boils ingredients
• controls temperatures
• prepares moulds
• operates various kinds of machinery and equipment
• follows strict health and safety procedures
• cleans equipment thoroughly
• keeps up to date with cooking-fashion and recipes
• develops new recipes etc

Are you … ?

• passionate about chocolates and sweets?
• good with your hands?
• a person with a good palate? you can taste really well.
• healthy?
• able to stand for long periods?
• hygiene conscious?
• able to do fine and delicate work?
• artistically inclined?
• accurate?

How do I become a Confectionery Maker?

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• Learnership – Confectionery Processing Level 2
• Learnership – Food and Beverage Processing: Confectionery Processing NQF 3
• Learnership – Confectionery (Chocolate, Sugar and Biscuit) Manufacturing Level 4
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• National Certificate: Confectionary Manufacture: N1, N2 and N3
• These can be done at many TVET (FET) colleges. Check what you college offers
• Trade Test

PATH 4

• Artisan Internship
• Trade Test

PATH 5

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Confectionery Maker / Chocolatier without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

Here are a few private institutions:

• CAPSICUM CULINARY STUDIO

http://www.capsicumcooking.com/courses

• THE CHOCOLATE STUDIO

Offers part-time, short courses:

Cape Town

Johannesburg

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Pastry Chef … or … Caterer

Is becoming a Confectionery Maker the right career choice for me?

Other names for butcher:

• Blockman
  

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – All about a career as a Butcher

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Butcher?

A Butcher is a professional who cuts and prepares meat for sale. 

They range from supermarket Butchers who work with already-slaughtered (killed) animals to traditional Butchers who travel to farms to kill the animals humanely themselves.  

Butchery is a skilled trade. It needs a lot of training and these skills are often passed down from one family member to another. Once the carcass (dead animal) is back in the butchery, the Butcher then cuts it up, trims off the fat and prepares it for packaging for the shelves.  

A Butcher may be employed by supermarkets, grocery stores, butcher shops, fish markets or can be self-employed. Some butchers may also specialise in charcuterie (making various cured meats).

What does a Butcher do?

• receives carcasses (humanely slaughtered animals)
• in some cases, slaughters the animals humanely
• stores meat in refrigerators
• cuts, trims and prepares meats for sale purposes
• weighs, packs and prices
• displays meat attractively in counters
• advises shoppers on various cuts of meat and cooking methods
• maintains sterile, hygienic work areas
• maintains all equipment is in good working order
• sharpesn knives, saws etc
• forecasts shoppers needs – (seasonal shopping eg Christmas)
• minces, pickles, curries, cures, smokes etc meats where required
• makes sure safety procedures are adhered to at all times

Are you … ?

• interested in working with raw meat?
• able to kill an animal humanely?
• a person with good listening skills?
• a person with good eye-hand coordination?
• neat?
• organised?
• friendly and helpful?
• healthy?
• safety conscious?
• team-player?
• hygenic?
• a good manager of people?
• able to stand for long periods at a time?
• a person with a positive personality?

How do I become a Butcher? 

Most Butchers start as a learner and study for diplomas and/or certificates while on the job.

• SA BUTCHERY TRAINING SCHOOL:  (countrywide) 

http://www.butcherschool.co.za/meat-processing.htm

• PRUE LEITH

6 week butchery training course

http://www.prueleith.co.za/article/butchery-training/#.VLdLEMm_TK8

Other routes you can follow:

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• Learnership – Meat Processing Level 2, 3 and 4
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• Learnership – Fresh Meat Processing Level 2, 3 and 4
• Trade Test

PATH 4

• National Certificate: Butchers: N1
• National Certificate: Poultry Meat Examiner: N2
• Workplace experience
• Trade Test

PATH 5

• Artisan Internship
• Trade Test

PATH 6

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Butcher without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Baker … or … Maitre d’

Is becoming a Butcher the right career choice for me?

A Cheesemaker is an artisan who makes cheese! 

A Cheesemaker turns milk into cheese. 

The milk can come from:

• cows
• goats
• sheep
• buffalo
• or any other animal which feed the young milk

There are basically 3 kinds of cheeses:

• Hard:  Parmigiano / Pecorini / Emmental etc
• Semi-soft: Gorgonzola / Goats Milk Log / Stilton etc
• Soft:  Brie / Camembert / Mozzarella etc

A Cheesemaker can work in large cheese manufacturing plants or for themselves. 

As a self-employed Cheesemaker you could sell your cheeses to delis, fine-dining restaurants or sell them yourself at food markets.

What does a Cheesemaker do?

• following a recipe
• pasteurizes the milk
• maintaining the correct temperatures
• tinting the cheese (adding colourants)
• adding key ingredients like rennet and cultures to make the cheese ‘set’
• adding flavourant if required:  for example sundried tomatoes, olives, herbs etc
• removing the whey – the water substance
• shaping cheeses
• storing cheese so that they can ‘cure’ (mature) and ripen
• regularly testing cheeses to check maturity

Are you … ?

• a person with a good palate?  you can taste the slight differences between flavours.
• good with your hands?
• passionate about food?
• adventurous with food?
• patient?
• accurate?
• hygiene conscious?

How do I become a Cheesemaker?

There are no cheese schools or colleges that provide training in cheese making but there are a number of private places that offer short courses:

• GROOTPLAAS DE RUST CHEESE ACADEMY:

http://www.cheeseacademy.co.za/

• FINEST KIND:

http://www.finestkind.co.za/index.html

• CHEESEMAKING.CO.ZA:

http://www.cheesemaking.co.za/

• ANGEL DOW:

Offers courses in goat’s cheese making

http://www.dairygoat.co.za/products/cheese/index.asp

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Chef or Sommelier

Is becoming a Cheesemaker the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.