Why Do They Say All Chefs are Cooks but Not all Cooks are Chefs?

It has become a tired refrain, mostly due to the influence of food television, for professional chefs to remind us that not all cooks should be called chefs. A chef, they say, is the person in charge of the kitchen, and this implies that he or she has more mastery of cooking, as well as the intricacies … Read more

Where Did Celebrity Chefs Go to Culinary School?

Culinary Institute of America, New York Campus

There is a big debate today about whether culinary school is worth it for those wanting careers in restaurant cooking and/or ownership. The expense, many say, is too much, and you can do just as well with apprenticeships, or by working your way up the ranks in various restaurants. However, most highly successful chefs went to some … Read more

Why Do Chefs Discourage Others from Becoming Chefs?

Chefs say pastry chefs are a crazy lot. Seriously, ask around. They do. Yet, chefs today often display a sort of schizophrenic-seeming attitude toward their jobs. They say they love it, but also that it is thankless, grueling work and, no, you should not become a chef. Why is it that we seem to come across so many … Read more

What is the Difference Between a Personal Chef and a Private Chef?

a personal or private chef preparing a meal

Most people assume that personal chef and private chef are two different ways of naming the same career. However, they are actually quite different jobs. Since becoming either a private or a personal chef can be a rewarding choice of career for a culinary school graduate, it is important to understand the difference. Of course, … Read more