Can you take the heat?

For some people cooking is their life. They dedicate most of their lives to making other people happy with the food that they cook. Some Chefs work their entire lives just to be able to take the Master Chef Exam. The book "The Soul of a Chef - The Journey Towards perfection" by Michael Ruhlman is a great book to read. He follows the lives of a few chefs from various areas of the industry, as they take the master chef exam. The test is beyond nerve racking to say the least. Very few people pass it each year. For some, after they pass the test, they don't know where to go from there. Their entire lives they worked to get this "title" and then what? Most of them worked so long and so hard for their careers their personal lives are non existent. The long hours and constant work days can take a strain on some families. Now, not every chef out there strives to go take the master chef exam. In fact, not very many at all. Even still, they work long, grueling hours. I knew a chef who worked from 7am - 10pm pretty much every day. He had a wife and 5 children. Now when did he have time to spend with them? Cooking professionally is definitely not a 9-5 job. That is something you need to consider before applying. There might be a select few jobs that you can get cooking where your hours are decent, they aren't all sweat shops. Like a breakfast cook for example. You could work early mornings and have the afternoons and evenings free. But on the other hand, did you pay $50,000 or more to flip omelets? If you plan to cook 'gourmet food' more than likely you will be cooking dinners. If your partner also works night, that could also be a good fit. There are so many things to consider before you apply to Culinary School. It can be a wonderful experience, but is it worth it?

Should you go to Culinary School?

My name is Daizy, and I'm not here to bad mouth or run down any ones decision to go to Culinary Arts school. I just want to simply give you pros and cons of both. I have an associates degree from a very respectable school, whose name I will not mention. For the next 20 years I will be paying back student loans for my wonderful education.
The recruiters for all Culinary Arts schools paint such a beautiful picture for you. You are going to travel the world making amazing food and you will make so much money you won't know what to do with it. Yeah right. I really wish I would have explored my options before I went to Culinary Arts School.
The main "Pro" of cooking is, well, people will always be eating. No matter what city, state or country you are in. But, that could also be its downfall. You, as a cook, will be working nights, weekends and holidays. All the times when the rest of the world wants to go out and enjoy themselves, you will be ensuring that they do.

I will be posting more on this topic shortly.....