Important information about the career as a sou chef
The position of a sou chef is one of the most covetable positions in the culinary career. The job description of a sou chef is that he or she is the right hand of the Head Chef, his main helper, and substitute. The sou chef is the one who will be running the kitchen when the
Head Chef is busy elsewhere. The sou chef is also an authority to the other kitchen staff. His position is that of middle management – the sou chef’s job is to mediate and delegate tasks between the Head Chef and the rest of the staff. Also, the sou chef is responsible for supervising how these tasks are carried out. The position of a sou chef is in a way training for the sou chef to become a Head Chef in the future.
But, what are the actual responsibilities and tasks of the sou chef? The sou chef will be helping the Head Chef with all the work around the kitchen. For example, he or she should make sure that the raw food supply of the restaurant is of high quality and that the deliveries are timely. Also, he will need to make sure that the food is properly stored in the kitchen.
The sou chef is also involved in the food making process. Thus, he needs to be good at preparing all of the dishes that are served in that restaurant. The sou chef also needs to make sure that the proper amount of portion is served. If the staff starts serving bigger portions than the customers are paying for, then the restaurant will lose on profits.
The sou chef, together with the Head Chef, will participate in the process of compiling a menu. Also, he needs to attend to matters such as safety and sanitation in the kitchen. The sou chef needs to be familiar with all of the processes that go on in the kitchen and supervise that they are done well.
There are some personality traits that will make a great sou chef. Being the middle management, the sou chef needs to be a leader and a team player at the same time. The best way to lead the staff is to lead by example. The sou chef needs to be impeccable whenever he or she is in the kitchen. Respect the teammates, but also show authority in a stressful situation. The sou chef must always show respect for the Head Chef’s decisions, but he or she should also contribute ideas and suggestions for the improvement of the kitchen.
There are two ways how to become a sou chef. One of them is to have a lot of working experience and be promoted to that rank over the years. The period of time to becoming a sou chef may be shortened if you have a culinary degree. There are many schools offering a culinary degree with about two years of schooling. A good tip for choosing where to go is to pick a tourist city with a lot of restaurants.