The head chef is the top person in the kitchen and highly respected by those who work under his or her wing. A top hotel chef or the equivalent in a restaurant will be someone who has worked their way up, gaining a reputation. References are all important, and whilst the catering guru might have extensive experience, there is also a need for the basic requirements of catering skills including food hygiene and food safety standards. The head chef will also be aware of nutrition and the various ways in which different ingredients interact
This career position involves great determination, creativity and a high degree of culinary skill, some aspects of which will be taught in vocational catering college, but much is down to the chef’s ability to produce fine food in keeping with customer expectations. In a good restaurant, the chef will earn around £40,000 per annum or more, but average salaries range between £24,000 and £30,000.