Tips on How to Advance from a Line Cook to a Sous Chef

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Lucky for those who had culinary education and training at prestigious culinary schools because they will be given preference over those who did not; but for those who did not have the opportunity to enroll at culinary schools, then they have to start from the bottom. It will take some time, long hours, passion, and dedication for their efforts to be noticed, but in time, they could reach the top.

Let us say for example that you have started your culinary career as a commis, showed your dedication to your profession, and then promoted to being the chef de partie or line cook. Now, as a chef de partie or line cook, you are responsible for a specific area of production or station. You may be the sauté chef or even the grill chef, and you may also even be the fry chef or the fish chef. There are many station-chef titles, so becoming the sous chef of the kitchen is going to be a tough job. After all, the sous chef is the second in command to the head chef, and many are going to covet the position.

If you want to advance from a line cook to a sous chef, then here are some tips that you can consider.

Getting formal culinary education is still a very good idea if you want to advance quicker. For this reason, if you have some extra time, you can enroll yourself in a culinary school or at local colleges offering culinary courses. You can also join and participate actively at local cooking clubs. Not only will this help you further your culinary knowledge, but this will also help you build relevant contacts in the culinary industry. Through these contacts, you can learn tips and advices that you can use to impress your superiors.

Now, if you do not have the time to travel from work or from home to school, then you can simply enroll at an online culinary school. Of course, you will also be taught about the principles, techniques, styles, among others, at an online culinary school. However, you have to know though that an online culinary school is still very different from a land-based one.

If getting a culinary education is out of the question, then you really have to work very hard for the chance to advance to the sous chef position. This will mean that you have to be a better line cook than you are right now. You have to work harder, be more diligent, show more initiative, be more competitive, and show that you have organizational skills.

The kitchen atmosphere is very busy, and it will take organizational skills to make sure that everything in your work area is organized as well as simplified. You can also be more innovative and think of ways on how you can speed up certain processes in the work area. One of these is by making food preparations easier. It will be a very huge help to the chefs if you found a way to speed things up, and in time, your superiors will become aware of your organization skills.

You know the old saying “practice makes perfect”, right? Now, this will also come in handy if you want to advance to the sous chef position. Learn from your superiors, take to heart their advices and tips, master the recipes they taught you, and practice, practice, practice. You have to familiarize yourself with the recipes and menus of the restaurant, and you should know not only how to prepare and cook them but also the principles and techniques behind the recipes. If a recipe is proving to be very difficult for you, then practice at home until you get it right.

Lastly, do not be a follower but show them that you can be a leader. This will mean thinking of creative and innovative ways on how you can serve the dishes or present the food on a plate, for example. Of course, you have to suggest the ideas to your superiors and the management first. Do not do anything without their consent though.

These are just some of the tips though on how you can advance from a line cook to a sous chef. However, you should know that everything will be in vain if you do not show your interest in advancing to a higher position. So if the position for sous chef opens, be sure to schedule a meeting with your superiors and express your interest in it.

Image Credit: dorseyeducation.com

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