How to become a michelin star chef
Monday, June 08, 2009 by mtt adminThe Michelin star is the Holy Grail for any chef around the globe. Every celebrity chef you have ever heard of has at some point in their career has been decorated with the distinction. Birmingham is now the proud owner of 3 Michelin star restaurants, and they shine like a beacon in the city and are a great source of pride for people, like myself, who believe the future of Birmingham is very bright. 
So how is it done?
All chefs from Gordon Ramsey to Jamie Oliver started as wild eyed food lovers, who went on to study cooking for a couple years before joining restaurants, climbing the ladder, cutting their teeth, starting their own restaurants….the rest I think you can guess, but what about everything in between. Thousands of chefs tread the same path as their illustrious counterparts whilst not achieving their ultimate goal, the Michelin star. Before I hand out any pearls of wisdom, I must stress that enjoying a profitable and stimulating career in catering can be very easily found without winning awards and having face on cereal boxes.
How do I know a Chef's career is right for me?
Try doing some work experience. After a few weeks spent in a busy restaurant, you'll soon know whether you can handle this kind of work. Contact your favourite Chef or restaurateur and say you love their cooking and would like to work under them. You may have to offer to work unpaid, but this is the best way to find out quickly and easily whether you're suited to the job. Watch people cooking, such as your parents and friends; read cookbooks and experiment with exotic food. These will all help you decide, and give you ideas and tips.How do I start a career as a Chef?
Once you've decided that a Chef's career is for you, there are various routes you can take:
Doing a full-time course at a college
Starting at the bottom level in a restaurant and working your way up as your skills develop
On-the-job training with days at college
Working in a chain that offers in-house training.
What are the advantages of a college course?
A college course will help you understand the basics and background of cooking, covering technical skills, hygiene and safety requirements and practical skills. And, of course, you'll also get a certificate to prove your qualifications.You can choose a course at a university or one devised by a culinary school, although the latter can be rather expensive. Taking a course will also mean that you don't have to start at the bottom when you enter the profession.
I hope these tips help, if you have any other hints you would like share, please feel free to get in touch. For information on the cookery courses ate Bournville, please check out our Catering and Hospitality page.
Heidi Highe Says:
As a potential learner entering any profession or study it can be quite a nerve wrecking experience, especially if you are new to Further or Higher Education or returning to education after a long break or looking for a career change.
As it’s your future you are dealing with, you want to be absolutely certain that you have made the right decision and most importantly you have taken the right steps in the direction you have chosen to lead, being your ultimate goal, regardless of the subject area.
I am no chef, no food critic or even a restaurant owner, yet I do love my food and recently I have to say it is sure beginning to show on my hips oh dear ..lol. Yet I do know that hospitality and catering is huge all you have to do is look around you to realise how diverse this is…by the café, bakeries, fast food chains and diverse range of restaurants one sees, the range of food on offer is endless and the queues one has to join to get some food…oh boy now that’s a mission well especially when in Birmingham!
From my experience of working as a Lecturer in many institutes within the West Midlands I can only advise EXPLORE before you COMMIT to your Career choice! So let’s get exploring…
Explore Taster Days/Sessions
If the College offers one day Taster Days or Sessions make sure you attend, these are different from Open days. This is an ideal opportunity for you to explore the facilities, resources on offer, have a tour of the College, chat to current students already on the course, and speak to guest speakers if available from the industry. It may well involve a practical session or practical demonstrations like how to for example make a chocolate sponge and to learn more about the course on offer by speaking to the tutor directly. Plus there will be plenty of opportunities to ask any questions and network with other fellow catering buddies once you are there throughout the day.
Taster sessions are great at putting any concerns or your mind at ease, as they give a flavour of what the course entails throughout the day, and a great opportunity to get familiar with your new environment and to meet others.
Explore Careers Advice
Having a chat with a Careers Advisor whether this is at the College or outside the College would help you to learn about the personal qualities, qualifications and experience required, and the opportunity to explore the various roles on offer in the Hospitality and Catering Sector. This would be beneficial to map out your career progression or to focus on specialist hospitality and catering roles in the long term, with support of further study if required.
Explore Summer Opportunities
Exploring work opportunities, in particular during the Summer break whether this be paid or voluntary, or part time do REQUIRE the basic principles and practices of food hygiene at hand. Although these skills may be obtained through on-job training, self study or relevant prior experience, yet why not get a head start this Summer and explore if the College offers any one-two day short courses in basic food hygiene. The knowledge gained will assist in the workplace as well as adding to your CV.
Explore Food Shows/Exhibitions
Exploring Food Shows at the NEC is a great way to explore what the industry is also offering and the trends of popular foods, as you taste them…lol. Keeping up to date with current industry changes in your sector is crucial, to reflect your creativity in catering and to pick up on new concepts via specialist food magazines!
I hear that Gordon Ramsay, James Martin and Jamie Oliver..will be there..so why not attend and pick a few tips from the professionals..who all started off just like you as you are now.
http://www.thenec.co.uk/whatson/bbcgoodfoodshow
http://www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com/home
Hopefully see you there
All the best with the catering…;0)