I want to be a pastry or desert chef

I am a student of Std IX. I want to be a pastry or desert chef as I have a talent for making sweet dishes. I have even taken up classes for perfecting my skills. Is there scope for a pastry chef in India? What are the qualifications, courses, etc., needed to pursue this career?

The position of pastry chef involves expertise in pies, candies, chocolates, cookies, cakes, ice cream and custards. You need to have artistic ability and creativity to produce pastries and desserts that look as good as they taste.

A 3-year degree course in Hotel Management with specialized training in confectionary is the minimum requirement. There are many institutes all over India that offer this degree course. Some institutes also offer a short-term certificate course in baking skills. Pastry chefs are employed in large hotels, bistros, restaurants, bakeries and some cafes.

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Is baking a good career?



Imagine a workplace where the air is always fragrant with the delicious smell of baking bread. The day is divided between mixing flour and whisking batter. Dallops of cream are scooped on to delectable pastries of all sizes and colours. What a treat it will be, right?



Well, thanks to the increasing popularity of different types of desserts, there is a huge demand for skilled bakers and pastry chefs in the dynamic food and beverage industry.



The culinary art of baking has become serious business. Professional bakers work in five-star hotels, artisan bakeries, television shows and with dessert manufacturers to produce the delicate and delicious creations that glitter temptingly on our social media screens or shop windows.



If you are passionate about baking, working as a professional baker could be a sweet choice. So put on your baker’s apron, grab a bag of flour and start baking!



Scope



The role of a baker involves much more than just baking bread. People with formal training in baking and pastry arts have a plethora of options, including working as pastry chefs or bakers. You can specialise in a specific type of baked good such as wedding cakes or artisan breads. There is a huge demand for customised and creative cakes. This is known as edible art and is a lucrative field. You can also specialise as a chocolatier or a food stylist. Chocolatiers design chocolate bars, truffles and other confectioneries, while food stylists prepare and style food for photo and video shoots.



How it works



Baking is a skill that can be picked up through training and practice. It broadly involves making biscuits, breads, cakes, muffins and pies. Baking is no longer restricted only to conventional local bakeries. While many bake as a hobby, professional bakers are those that put their skills to commercial use. Plant bakers usually work in small-scale, independent bakeries, five-star hotels or a restaurant chain. The last few years also has seen the rise of gourmet bakeries that cater to different tastes and requirements such as gluten-free and vegan goodies.



Required skills




  • Passion for baking

  • Culinary skills

  • Creativity

  • Innovation

  • Attention to detail

  • Organisation skills

  • Patience

  • Dedication



What to study?



Anyone can become a baker, but to work in restaurants and hotels, a degree or a certificate course in bakery and confectionery is a pre-requisite. Hotel management colleges offer short-term courses in baking. Recently, some institutes started to offer craftmanship courses in Bakery and Patisserie, accredited by City and Guides (C&G), London.



Where to study:




  • The Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, New delhi: Diploma in Bakery and Confectionery (C&G)

  • Lavonne Academy of Baking Science and Pastry Arts, Bengaluru: Diploma in Patisserie (C&G)

  • Institute of Bakery and Pastery Arts, New Delhi: Diploma in Bakery and Patisserie Arts

  • Kohinoor College of Hotel and Tourism Management Studies, Mumbai: B.Sc in Hotel Management, along with a certificate course in Bakery

  • Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata: Craftsmanship course in Food Production and Patisserie – one-and-a-half years

  • Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Goa: Craftsmanship course in Food Production and Patisserie – 24 weeks



Abroad




  • Le Cordon Bleu, London and Paris: It offers a Grand Diploma with Professional Immersion programme (includes a course in French language at the Paris campus) and Diploma in Patisserie – Nine months

  • Edinburgh School of Food and Wine, the U.K.: Diploma in Professional Patisserie

  • Ashburton Chefs Academy, the U.K.: Diploma in Professional Patisserie



 



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I want to pursue a career in the hotel industry as a chef



I have completed Std XII and now I want to pursue a career in the hotel industry as a chef. Please guide me as to how to go ahead with this.



For professional training to get into this field, one should go for a course in hotel management and opt for the specialization in Food & Beverage. A number of reputed institutes in the country run these courses.



The National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology, New Delhi, conducts a joint entrance test (NCHM JEE) for admission to the 3-year B.Sc. programme in Hospitality and Hotel Administration for its 52 affiliated Institutes of Hotel Management, all over India. Students who have completed 10+2 in any stream including vocational, are eligible to apply. The exam is of 3 hours duration and contains a total of 200 questions on Numerical Ability & Scientific Aptitude, Reasoning & Logical Deduction, General Knowledge & Current Affairs and English language.



Private institutes such as the Welcomegroup Graduate School of Hotel administration, Manipal, Oberoi School of Hotel Management, New Delhi and Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad, hold separate entrance exams, followed by an interview.



 



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I want to be a chef and then start my own business



I am a Std XII Arts student. I want to be a chef and then start my own business. I mostly want to specialize in breads and cakes. What can I do o achieve my goal? Also if some courses can be suggested it would be of great help.



Due to an unprecedented growth in the culinary industry, there is an increase in the demand for professional chefs. But it requires years of work experience, dedication, hard work and discipline in order to get far in this competitive industry.



Before starting your business, you should have proper education which should include management and accounting courses also. If you want to be a hardcore baker, equip yourself with internships and apprenticeships by working with the best in your chosen field. Food trucks, cafes, bistros, taco stands, ice cream carts, chocolate shops, and pizzerias are all creative ways to market your food dreams.



A variety of diploma courses are available in this field. Some of these are: Diploma in Food & Beverage Service, Diploma in Bakery & Confectionery, Diploma in Kitchen Management. I suggest you go for a 4-year Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) degree, for which qualification is 10+2 in any stream. While pursuing this course, you will also learn about the other related fields such as housekeeping and general management. Later you can specialize in Food & Beverage.



 



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