A Toast to Chef Training

Chef training isn't just about food. It's also about finding the right alcoholic drinks for an entree or appetizer. Read on to learn more about popping the cork on a chef career.

It's not just a bartender's job to know about spirits, alcohol, and wine. Chef training includes a rundown of various alcoholic drinks, from which wine goes with which entree to which alcohol is used for cherries jubilee. Think you've got what it takes for a career as a chef?

Have You Got Good Spirit Sense?

What kind of alcohol do you pour over cherries jubilee and set aflame?
What's a Smooth Dog?
What's a Berserker?
What's the right wine to serve with poultry?

Chef Training

Training for a career as a chef involves a lot of hands-on time in the kitchen with master chefs. Culinary schools emphasize hands-on courses and time spent in professional, fully equipped dream kitchens. When you're headed for a career as a chef, you're likely to be taking classes on topics such as:

Culinary techniques
International cuisine
Appetizers
Desserts
Entrees

Chef's Salary

A career as a chef can be a tasty one. Chef jobs range from five-star restaurants to cruise ships. Chef salaries are commensurate with experience, but chef training at internationally renowned culinary schools can give you a leg up on the competition. While the profession is expected to grow through 2016 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, competition is expected to be fierce, especially considering hourly wages are around $20 an hour or higher for top chef jobs.

Answers to the Quiz

Cherries Jubilee requires a very good brandy.
A Smooth Dog is 3/4 of a shot of Amaretto mixed with 1/4 shot 7-Up.
A Berserker is either a Celtic warrior or 1 shot of Amaretto in a glass of pineapple juice.
Take a chef training course and find out.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics Description for Chefs (http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos161.htm)
Chef Jobs (http://www.chefsemployment.com/)