Vegan Chef Job Description
While many people weren't paying attention, vegan cooking and dining moved from the fringe to the mainstream. With its organic and seasonal emphasis, healthful benefits and versatility, vegan cuisine is popular amongst celebrities, the health-conscious and fitness buffs. Vegan chefs have more options, but their job duties have also shifted as their work environments have broadened.
Other People Are Reading
-
Types
-
Vegan chefs are no longer only found in 1970s-style health food restaurants. These days, spas, hospitals, resorts, raw food restaurants, health clubs and organic markets also hire vegan chefs. These chefs have job duties that require nutritional knowledge, the ability to adjust traditional recipes to lighter alternatives and the skills to highlight the beauty and great flavor of natural foods that are simply prepared.
Features
-
The key job duties are to plan and prepare menus that are based on fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as other vegan food options. A vegan chef must keep a running inventory of food items and equipment. Some vegan chefs must consult with a staff dietitian, a nutritionist or a doctor to plan menus according to very specific guidelines. Vegan chefs that work as personal chefs typically must handle the shopping and cleanup as well. At restaurants, resorts and gourmet markets, vegan chefs typically regulate portion size, help determine pricing, consult with suppliers, train kitchen staff, maintain quality and keep all records and accounts.
-
Potential
-
Many vegan chefs increase their options by mastering vegetarian and ethnic cuisine. They may create traditional vegan recipes that originate in Italy, Greece, Poland, the Middle East, Africa, Hungary and Spain. They learn to master the combination of colors and textures. They can be in high demand if they demonstrate an ability to cook fresh, unprocessed dishes from scratch. One of their most demanding, yet rewarding, job duties is to keep abreast of vegan dining trends and to seek out or develop new recipes.
Considerations
-
While vegan chefs used to have to train on the job, these days there are courses and programs specializing in vegan cuisine. In Honolulu, Macrobiotic Hawaii offers coursework in nutritional, seasonal cuisine. Good Tastes of Tuscany offers an immersion experience in the Tuscan food tradition, including vegetarian and vegan options. In Portland, Oregon, the Institute for Culinary Awakening offers a vegan culinary arts program.
Expert Insight
-
Kurma Dasa, known as Australia's Vegetarian Guru, demonstrates the vivid possibilities of a career as a vegan chef. His job duties began simply, with the hand-grinding of fresh herbs and spices and the chopping of vegetables. He now writes cookbooks, teaches throughout the world and hosts television cooking shows. He specializes in eclectic, gourmet cuisine that is consistently creative.
-
