How to Become a Chef De Partie
In the hierarchy of the professional kitchen, the chef de partie ranks just below the sous chef, but above the commis chef. The chef de partie is responsible for one station in the kitchen, such as acting as a saucier, who is charge of preparing the restaurant's sauces. To become a chef de partie, chef training and education must be undertaken to guarantee experience and expertise.
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Instructions
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Attend culinary school to learn the basics of food preparation and the inner-workings of a professional kitchen. While in culinary school, you not only learn to prepare, plate and serve food, but how to manage a kitchen and restaurant. You may also wish to branch into a specific area of culinary expertise while in culinary school, giving you an edge over competitive chefs who only learn the basics.
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Work in a kitchen. You can get a job in a kitchen while you are attending culinary school to boost your work experience. Though you may not be able to get a high paying chef job fresh out of culinary school, the experience you gain in the kitchen before obtaining certification prepares you for an apprenticeship and the workforce.
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Apprentice with an experienced chef in your area of expertise. For example, if you plan to become a poisseur, a chef de partie who specializes in the preparation of fish and fish sauces, apprentice under a chef who's culinary focus centers around the preparation of fish. To get an apprenticeship, apply during your final year of culinary school. This gives you plenty of time to find a chef who's willing to take you under her wing.
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Obtain chef certification. You may not need to be a certified chef in order to get a job, but acquiring chef certification demonstrates your professionalism and dedication to potential employers. To become certified, you must test with the American Culinary Foundation. Before you can test, you must earn your culinary degree and attain work experience in the field.
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Tips & Warnings
A chef de partie must not only demonstrate culinary expertise, but leadership skills as well. You must demonstrate both the ability to work independently, and as part of the overall team.
References
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