Jobs for Food Tasters
There are those who see food as little more than a way to quiet a rumbling tummy, and then there are foodies, people who see every leaf of basil, pool of gravy and crust of bread as something to be experienced and savored. For anyone in search of a career where they will hold a fork more often than a pencil, there are jobs where tasting, eating and cooking are the order of the day.
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Professional Food Taster
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A professional food taster can help develop products for grocery stores. Before a new food product makes its way to supermarket shelves, its recipe it adjusted multiple times to give it great taste and texture. To help companies in this complex process, professional food tasters, who have highly developed palates, eat samples and make suggestions to help create an ideal product. Professional tasters might suggest that the amount of an ingredient be increased or decreased or that something be done to change the texture of the food, making it feel more pleasant in the mouth. Food tasters usually engage in on-the-job training, though some may have nutrition and health related degrees.
Recipe Developer
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A recipe developer tinkers with ingredients to get things just right. The job of a recipe developer requires patience and an eye for detail as he or she creates and alters recipes for cookbook publishers, restaurants, food manufacturers and other clients. Recipe developers come up with new creations and also experiment with recipes to make foods tastier, healthier or in some way different to meet their client's needs. For instance, a recipe developer at a weight-loss company might change a pasta dish recipe to make it lower in fat, substituting lean ingredients for unhealthy ones to reduce calorie count. Oftentimes, recipe developers begin by working other jobs in the food industry or studying food science at a university.
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Restaurant Critic
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Restaurant critics get to rant and rave about places to dine. Someone with a passion for writing and eating can combine the two by becoming a restaurant critic for a magazine, newspaper or website. Restaurant critics often work anonymously to ensure they receive equal service with other diners, tasting dishes and then evaluating them for quality, presentation, price and other factors like service. Critics must be well-informed about various cuisines so they can write with authority about everything from pastries to curry, determining what is authentically delicious and what's worth avoiding. Aspiring food critics should consider studying journalism or writing while reading reviews in top publications to get a feel for how the job is done.
Chef
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Chefs can put their passion for food into every dish. It helps to have a passion for what you do, and foodies put their love of food to good work as chefs, cooking and tasting to create delicious dishes. There are various positions for kitchen professionals, but those truly serious about the art of fine food should pursue education and professional experience in quality restaurants. Though it may mean starting at the bottom, even small tasks will be big learning experiences. Those not ready to make a full time commitment to a culinary career could try something as simple as preparing their own baked goods for sale at a local market or taking on some small-time catering jobs after gaining experience.
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