People who want to become chefs often have misconceptions about Austin culinary arts schools. They might think that being a culinary arts student will be an easy and fun experience, and while it can be fun, it’s not easy. During your time as a culinary student, you will learn a lot of material in a relatively short amount of time and be expected to use what you’ve learned to create beautiful, tasty food. It’s important for aspiring students to understand the realities of culinary arts schools before they attend.
Chef school is fast-paced
Cooking at home is not like cooking in a professional kitchen or in a kitchen at a culinary arts school. Cooking at home can be fun and relaxing because you’re cooking at your own speed and most of the time you’re just cooking for yourself or your family. In a professional or educational environment the pace is much faster. This fast pace can make cooking difficult even for someone who knows their way around a kitchen. If you’re considering culinary arts school, be ready to move quickly and be able to work with several people in the same kitchen.
You’re going to mess up
Everyone messes up from time to time. No matter how good you are at cooking, eventually you will have an accident. You might leave something on the burner a little too long, dice something that should have been sliced, or add just a little too much or too little of an important ingredient. While mistakes should be avoided, things happen. Usually the best thing you can do is make a mental note of what you did wrong and correct it in the future. Dwelling on mistakes is something a chef cannot do.
You might hurt more than your pride a few times
There will come a time when a dish doesn’t quite turn out the way you hoped it would; there will also come a time when you’ll cut a finger with a knife, burn an elbow on the side of the oven, or knock your head on something while reaching for a plate or bowl. Minor burns, bumps and bruises will happen. As you become better acquainted with the kitchen you’re working in and the fast pace of a professional kitchen environment, you’ll have fewer instances of accidents such as these. Remember: Whatever you’re doing in the kitchen, even if you’re in a rush, should be done in a safe manner. Never handle any kitchen equipment in a way that can hurt you or the people around you.
You’re going to meet a lot of interesting people
New students often don’t realize how many different kinds of people they will meet in school. There are all kinds of people who attend culinary arts school. Some will be fresh out of high school, and some will be adults returning to gain a formal education. It’s important to be open to people of all backgrounds because you will see a wide variety of people in a professional kitchen.
You’ll learn more than you thought you would
Often, people underestimate just how much they will learn as a culinary arts student. Even if they have restaurant experience and feel comfortable in a kitchen, they will learn more than they ever thought possible. All of that training and knowledge you gain at an Austin culinary arts school will help you get a job in a competitive industry.
