How to become a chef in India: Diploma chef courses.
What is the next best thing to a homemade meal, food from a restaurant? Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, we avail ourselves of these establishments as frequently as we can. Restaurants are a dime a dozen all over the country and continue to grow in number. There is no doubt that a chef plays a pivotal role in turning those culinary dreams into reality. A chef's job description varies from serving succulent meals with great speed and finesses to designing interiors of restaurants- everything from decor to table arrangement. A qualified chef with years of experience makes sure that these restaurants run as per customers' expectations.
A career as a chef can be a rewarding and fulfilling pursuit. They are incredibly versatile professionals needed in every type of work environment, from restaurants to campsites to cruise ships. However, this position is not for everyone. Whether you want to become a chef or not, it's always good to see what these specialized professionals do every day. If you would like to know more about the Responsibilities of a Chef, you can head over to the blog - Career as Chef and Job Profile.
Section: Quick stats of Tourism and Hospitality Industry:
Robust demand: By 2029, India's tourism sector is expected to grow 6.7% to reach Rs. 35 trillion (US$ 488 billion), accounting for 9.2% of the total economy. The hospitality industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the service sector of India. The hospitality industry provides employment opportunities to a large number of people. The industry, directly and indirectly, provides employment opportunities to over 30 million people. As per the forecast report of IBEF, the hospitality industry will contribute over $194 billion to the GDP of India by 2028.
Who is a Chef?
A chef is someone who takes raw ingredients and creates terrific dishes that please the eye as well as the taste buds. A chef is one who knows how to cook, how to train, how to serve, and how to manage a restaurant. Being a chef requires a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion. To become a chef in India, you need to learn a few basics skills:
Cooking skills
Cutting skills
Plating skills
Food hygiene
Basic nutrition and diet
Food styling and presentation
Kitchen management skills
Business management
Basic communication skills
Restaurant management skills
What are the different kinds of chefs in India?
A chef is a professional who cooks professionally. There are several kinds of chefs. Some of the most common chefs and their responsibility are listed in below table:
Executive Chef: An Executive Chef (or head chef) is the highest-ranking or most influential chef in a restaurant. They manage and oversee every activity kitchen and staff. An Executive chef generally doesn't cook. However, they ensure the presentation of dishes, approve staff's responsibility, create and approve menu items, and so on.
Head chef: The head chef is the one who manages the kitchen. He supervises other chefs and makes sure that the kitchen runs smoothly. The head chef also has to take care of the inventory and the budget of the restaurant.
Sous chef: Sous chef is the one who looks after the kitchen for chefs. He supervises the work of other chefs and checks the food quality. He helps the head chef with planning the menu and checking the quality of the products. They work directly under the head chef and are involved in decision-making activities related to kitchen ingredients, the overall menu, and delivery.
Pastry Chef: A pastry chef's work is similar to a baker's but more delicate. Pastry chefs typically use a combination of natural ingredients such as sugar and flour. These ingredients are often combined with eggs, butter, milk, cream, and other ingredients to create desserts, cakes, pastries, pies, and other baked goods. Pastry chefs also work with chocolate, fruit, fruits, and nuts to make desserts.
Chef de partie: A chef de partie is often the head chef's second in command, and is in charge of the junior chefs, ransacks, and stocks.
A chef de partie needs to be very diligent and is often the go-to person for information. A chef de partie should have a good knowledge of herbs, spices, and other ingredients.
Commis chef: A commis chef is more junior than a sous chef and is often in charge of one particular station. They generally work under a chef de partie or the station chef.
Basic eligibility criteria to pursue a Chef Course:
Who can: A Chef's career is best for those who have a great interest in food and cooking. Being a Chef is not a typical 9 to 5 job, and it requires tremendous dedication, passion, hard work and self-motivation.
Subjects at the school level – No specific subjects are required; however, candidates who have studied English will have an advantage. English is mandatory for most of the entrance tests conducted in India.
Eligibility Criteria –10+2 or equivalent from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Age Limit: For a formal education and to pursue a diploma or degree course in India, thier is an upper age limit set by NCHMCT. For General and OBC(Upper Age Limit is 25 years), SC and ST (Upper Age Limit is 28 years.
Entrance Exam - National Council For Hotel Management, conducts the national-level entrance exam NCHMCTJEE
and Catering Technology for admissions in top hospitality colleges across the country.
How to Become a Chef in India:
Prepare yourself mentally: You have already taken the first step, deciding that a career as a chef is what you want. The next step is to prepare yourself mentally. Study hard. Learn as much as you can about a chef's life, the classes required, the work experience required, the duties and hours, the salary, etc. Decide if this is what is suitable for you. Learn as much as you can about the job.
Courses: Being a chef is one of the most exciting professions in the world today. Around the world, chefs enjoy prestige and status. In India, the trend for chef courses is increasing, and several institutes are offering these courses. The great thing about choosing a Chef's career is there is no limitation in courses and education. There are enough certificate courses, graduation Programs, diplomas, Post Graduate Specializations, and doctoral-level degrees offered by various institutes and colleges.
Following are the degree courses one can pursue to become a chef:
Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) in Culinary
B.Sc. in Catering Science and Hotel Management
Certificate in Food Production and Patisserie
PG Diploma in Culinary Arts
BA in Culinary Arts
Internship: Next, look for a short-term internship. You can usually find an internship at a well-known restaurant or hotel if you are starting. This will help you get hands-on experience in cooking in a professional environment while also giving you a taste of the world of the chef profession. Once you have completed your internship, you will get a better idea of whether this is something you want to pursue and if it is something you can afford. If not, you can move on to work in a restaurant as a full-time waiter, or in catering, restaurants, hotels, etc., or explore other career options.
How much money do chefs make?
As a chef, you will earn more than you initially hoped. The starting salary for a chef is around Rs 25,000 per month. The average salary for a graduate chef is around Rs 50,000 per month. The salary of a highly experienced chef is around Rs 1 lakh per month. For a head chef, the salary is around Rs 1.5 lakh per month. The salary of a head chef at a leading airline is around Rs 2 lakh per month. A chef at a leading hotel earns around Rs 2.5 lakh per month. A chef at a top five-star hotel earns around Rs 5 lakh per month. The average salary of a pastry chef is around Rs 1 lakh per month. A chef in a hotel earns around Rs 2.5 lakh per month.
So the salary of the Chefs largely depends on the skills they have, their experience, and the type of industry they are working in.
Top Recruiter: The following are the popular recruiter of the chef in the hotel industry.
Marriott International, Inc.
Hyatt Hotels
Accor Hotels
ITC Group of Hotels
The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts
The Oberoi Group (15)
The Taj Group of Hotels
lords
Clarks Inn
Fortune Hotels
Sarovar Group of Hotels (0)
Club Mahindra Group (0)
Ginger Hotels
Lemon Tree Hotels
Final Thought:
If you have a passion for food, if you love to cook, and love to cook for others, then this is the right profession for you. Success as a chef depends on several elements which you must consider. First, you must decide if a chef career is right for you by exploring your interests, skills, and personality traits. Then look at the type of chef you would like to be and then explore various educational options available to become a chef.