How is the life of a chef like?

How is the life like for a chef?

• If there is a chef out there can you please provide me some information in the following: How is the work place like? What school did you go to? Do you work long hours? Is there enough time for yourself, like can you go on a vacation? If you own a restaurant how does vacationing work? Do you earn a lot of money? If so, where do you work and as what? What type of chefs are there? Can you learn other things while in culinary school?(I would like to do construction because I like to work with that type of stuff, like hammers and saws and all that good stuff) And Please if there's extra information you can give me or advice that would be really nice.

• Answer:

  Being a chef is about being born into it. You can be taught formulas and ratios to make doughs, sauces, etc....But not the intrinsic qualities of a sense of timing, taste, and the passion to go for long periods on your feet in a very hot room with fifteen things to do most of the time you are there. A shift will be 12-16 hours per day with few breaks and your salary will often be for less than a cooks' hourly wage. You work weekends and most holidays. I went 19 years without a real vacation (out of state) and 13 years without a week or more off. I attended the Ca. Culinary Academy in San Francisco in 1985-86, graduating second in my class. It was one of the best times of my life. Have you seen Hells Kitchen? Gordon Ramsay is nicer than I was when I got po'ed at someone. It's a pressure cooker when you do cuisine as expectations from your patrons are high....as well as the prices. hahahahahaha. Not to mention your reputation is at stake with every plate that leaves the kitchen. I wish you well as you consider this occupation. Remember, the kitchen is a ***** of a taskmaster that only love can apease. The rest are thrown out in a very unpleasant way. Take Care, Ghef G