Chapter 5 The Professional Chef 69
their career paths may lead them into one of
these related fields.
Research Chef
After gaining years of experience in
the professional kitchen, some chefs are
employed by food manufacturers as research
chefs. These chefs create recipes for mass-
produced food products. Most research chefs
work in conjunction with food scientists to
develop products that can be produced in a
manufacturing plant rather than a restaurant
kitchen. Typically, the food technologists
solve the problems of manufacturing and
packaging and the research chef assures that
the flavor, texture, and appearance are as
close to restaurant quality as possible.
Personal Chef
Personal chefs are paid professional
culinarians who regularly cook for the
same individual, family, or group. Though
personal chefs do not often cook on the
same scale as chefs in commercial food-
service operations, they still must exercise
professional cooking and management
skills.
Restaurant Consultant
Restaurant consultants are foodservice
professionals who offer their expertise to
other foodservice operators for a fee. They
can help with many of the difficult aspects
of the hospitality business such as business
planning and restaurant start-ups. Some
consultants specialize in menu develop-
ment, marketing, and advertising. Restaurant
consultants are often called into a struggling
operation to troubleshoot and make sugges-
tions to improve an operation’s efficiency and
profitability. Certain consultants specialize in
helping restaurants find and hire chefs and
managers.
Marketing and Sales
Being able to sell products to chefs
requires a great understanding of the chal-
lenges that chefs face. People who market and
sell to the foodservice industry must have
detailed knowledge of how their products
are used in various operations. Some of the
best people in this field have substantial culi-
nary training and experience. Many compa-
nies that make products for the foodservice
industry hire former chefs and managers
because of their knowledge and experience.
Jobs in this field include sales representative,
marketing and promotions, and technical
support.
Photo courtesy of Lloyd Wolf for SkillsUSA
5-7 SkillsUSA offers culinary competitions in which
students demonstrate their culinary preparation and
presentation skills.