Learn the basic skills needed to be a chef. Watch cooking tutorials online, try new recipes, experiment, and start cooking! 

Skills

Teach yourself how to cook. 

Create distance between yourself and your routine! Take something you're interested in and seek out a location or an event that supports that interest within your time and budget.

Day to Day

Travel to a new place. 

Listen to author Richard Florida speak about the importance of creativity in career stability. How can being creative, no matter what industry or job you're doing, give you an advantage?

Career

Learn about the importance of creativity in any career.

Chefs

Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

First Interest High-Point

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Third Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Second Interest High-Point

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Chefs and Head Cooks

Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

Check the quality of raw or cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.

Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.

Check the quantity and quality of received products.

Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.

Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.

Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.

Determine how food should be presented and create decorative food displays.

Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.

Estimate amounts and costs of required supplies, such as food and ingredients.

Collaborate with other personnel to plan and develop recipes or menus, taking into account such factors as seasonal availability of ingredients or the likely number of customers.

Analyze recipes to assign prices to menu items, based on food, labor, and overhead costs.

Prepare and cook foods of all types, either on a regular basis or for special guests or functions.

Determine production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of services.

Recruit and hire staff, such as cooks and other kitchen workers.

Meet with customers to discuss menus for special occasions, such as weddings, parties, or banquets.

Demonstrate new cooking techniques or equipment to staff.

Meet with sales representatives to negotiate prices or order supplies.

Arrange for equipment purchases or repairs.

Record production or operational data on specified forms.

Plan, direct, or supervise food preparation or cooking activities of multiple kitchens or restaurants in an establishment such as a restaurant chain, hospital, or hotel.

Coordinate planning, budgeting, or purchasing for all the food operations within establishments such as clubs, hotels, or restaurant chains.

Apple corers

Blast chillers

Blenders

Bone saws

Boning knives

Box graters

Braziers

Bread slicers

Broilers

Cake decorating tools

Cappuccino makers

Carbonated beverage dispensers

Chefs' knives

Commercial coffee grinders

Commercial coffeemakers

Commercial dishwashers

Commercial microwave ovens

Convection ovens

Conveyer ovens

Cream whippers

Desktop computers

Double boilers

Dry or liquid measuring cups

Electric deep-fat fryers

Electric ovens

Electric stoves

Fire suppression blankets

Food dicers

Food processors

Food shredders

Food smokers

Fruit zesters

Garbage compactors

Gas ovens

Gas stoves

Gas-powered deep-fat fryers

Griddles

Grills

Hot dog cookers

Ice shaving or crushing equipment

Ice-making machines

Infrared heat lamps

Instant-read pocket thermometers

Juice dispensers

Juice extractors

Kitchen fire extinguishers

Kitchen shears

Kitchen tongs

Knife sharpeners

Laptop computers

Mandolines

Meat grinders

Meat slicers

Meat thermometers

Melon ballers

Mixers

Oyster knives

Paring knives

Parisian cutters

Pasta machines

Personal computers

Pizza ovens

Plane graters

Portion scales

Pressurized steam cookers

Refrigerator thermometers

Rice cookers

Rolling pins

Rotisserie units

Salamanders

Serrated blade knives

Sieves

Sifters

Slicing machines

Steam kettles

Steam tables

Strainers

Toasters

Vegetable brushes

Vegetable peelers

Waffle makers

Woks

ADP eTIME

Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro

Barrington Software CookenPro Commercial

CostGuard

Culinary Software Services ChefTec

Delphi Technology

EGS CALCMENU

EGS F&B Control

Email software

GNOME Gnutrition

Google spreadsheet

Internet browser software

IPro Restaurant Inventory, Recipe & Menu Software

Menu planning software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Office

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Chef

[Female narrator #1] Everywhere you turn, people try to tell you who to be about deciding for yourself? movement that empowers own roads in life. three people from different explore the country interviewing walks of life. They hit the guidance to find what it around doing what you love. this is Roadtrip Nation. We're in Colorado Springs. heading east in a at the map today, and I guess Colorado was. I thought it was and it was like here and but it's like here. I'm trying to soak it in as best as I can, by, and I'm like, that, come back." today, she's a glass blower. also get to blow something and home, so, it's really exciting. She taught us how to handle liquid glass. like, a little hesitant about. with liquid glass and fire. I went to school for welding, design, the foundry and all of these was like everything to me. the world's biggest studio. we were making really big Chicago, and California, you at that point? basically, in the building. situation. on me as far as, not making my there, getting sick every day was this moment I remember me." I really just had to drop over, and just move. off, and I was just doing out here to Colorado, different processes. and trying it for the in love and it was like my life." You know? me. Jess was really good at coaching us through too overwhelming. it a go. I may or may not ever have another opportunity Like its just, why not? make a really great gift." And for myself. I'm keeping this." What do you think you've learned process of glass blowing. Everything. thing for me. It's a way of life. able to slow down. wanted to make a lot of work. little bit different where you assess what needs to be done. changed my life significantly. because I started to notice that that I was making is kind of bit. Almost like, really know what I'm doing. just kinda calm and you just music in the art. I've ever had have been you're like, "you know what? it." what all of you are doing. those niches. She's not that much older than me, but has taken making her own business. school and quit them. right. Not to mention to pursue that dream. Island. I love my home, everything else. Being out here huge amounts of this country, as like, "wow, this place I've it doesn't even have its Like we don't even uhhh symbol. of Colorado Springs. drive from Austin, Texas, time on the road coming up. to expect, though. this. To get to Austin, we drove through like a bit Texas. a half weeks. half weeks we have Chicago, New York. We've had so much good experience so far, I can just half going back to the continues to be that way. plan for Austin was swim. That was it. interviews booked. to be in a fridge to Back months ago when we were planning we were gonna do Houston, and Austin and New Orleans. was just kind of a weird lesson didn't know what we were going just gonna wing it and we did. We are in Austin, Texas. our sweaty bodies. its own way. We don't have any interviews, so were some on the street. we'll meet a genius. My naturally introverted side just like "sign! sign! was just like "okay" Hi, how you guys doing? documentary? No thank you. You guys have some advice for the world? It felt more kind of like camaraderie three of us, too. So we got like a couple silly ones. Do whatever the [censored] you want. Ohhh thats a good one. A couple weird ones that we didn't understand. Yeah. "always admit to a fart." Okay, I did not see that advice coming. But we did end up getting some really good nuggets of wisdom. Everyone has a story and I like stories, no matter what. looking for camera attention, cool people. I've been a sergeant before. Of course, the guys that lead. can't be a leader they go through. need to be a follower as well. Just surround myself with older mentors me on the correct path. walking, they've already walked. I was really close to my grandmother when I was me to be self-sufficient and think I'd be living the life listened to her. We all should do what makes us fulfilled. Don't give up. Yeah, don't give up. I'm the morning riser. So, it's usually which i really like, You don't necessarily be blasting music yet. people and interacting this social stress. into the rhythm of like, hours. city feel more special. a blank slate than a chaotic other chaotic brains. New Orleans was really cool. dive into the city and experience the culture there. the street performers. intrigued by just every I had graduated from high school and went and just was restless. little bit. I came back starting cooking socially. was like "this is what I've prime example of that There's just nothing more table, newspaper, dripping down your arms. people across the table or next see what their experience is to the table. Gotta get my hands on one of these. Oooo, spicy. This is a medium that I'm very comfortable with. for something that i wanted to there in the world somewhere, but I just didn't know what it was. We have come up to the same point in every story I dropped everything the other side of the country, or whatever. And I'm valuable that kind of experience can be. I've been joking around about moving something to just get out and move out of Rhode Island. Dumont? Cafe Dumont? something really New Orleans. our palms read? So, Martha really wanted to do some voodoo. someone to tell our fortune they're most comfortable with. our futures. We're like two blocks away from the voodoo spot. ask if they would wanna do it? Wanna go scope it out? Dumont Ben was like not feeling it. When in Rome, right? Yeah... I don't know. I just don't... about getting my palm read. My name's Otis, pleased to meet you. Martha. All right, wanna shuffle the cards for me please. Sure You want prosperity. Good. fame, fortune, career. card in the whole deck. I can't say I was all for it at first. ever considered. into. tell you your future. Flowers. life? No. He'll find you. Apparently, I'm going to have a lot of going to find a wonderful for him, he's gonna find you. Caretaker. coming up for you. Okay. They made a really specific reference to Ben needs "okay, Ben. It's in the cards." How did you get into this? I was intrigued with this as a child. forgot to go home. I said, to be doing what I' wanna do. happiness. but you, right? So Otis is just another one of those examples of for what he does. a tarot card reading guy. going on and he's happy, man. commendable about that. I think it's definitely a reminder that you have power based on who you are. Yeah, that's why I was laughing at one point. he said about moving. literally contemplating. Yeah. They kind of expose the things you Yeah, it's more ourselves than we realize. There'll be a lot of happiness, a lot of success. up to you. you are what you create. with attitude. the way you want it to be. After all those cornfields, So, we're in Chicago at Threadless Tees headquarters. interview Jake Nickell of the company. that sells a bunch of t-shirts, cool designs on it. people to design t-shirts You walk into the main room and hanging everywhere. that I had gone phase. So I was like, I got there and I was like, shirt, and that shirt." Personality-wise, you expect the mogul of a t-shirt scary guy thats just like "aww" But he especially is just this kind of subdued, really cool, you can tell. he's cool cuz he started an awesome t-shirt line. It's funny sometimes when people ask what I do have a t-shirt company. explain it, but. dreamlist that was a the world. there saying post up and I'll make t-shirts the best designs. under my desk at my apartment, lunch break while at work. that wasn't even meant to be What kind of first inspired you to They held this event in London called a challenge to design and my design won. literally like an know like how to make tshirts. people's credit cards online. doing. So how long ago was that? That was in 2000. years almost. Do you ever just look around and be like, I made this! Can you talk about growth? beginning and now its kind kind of deal? Yeah, in the very early days of extreme explosive growth, operation side of the business. up with ourselves for awhile. So how did you figure it out? I just slowly figured it out my own way, I guess. were looking in phone and type in people's credit card charge their credit card. were a scam basically. What do you think has been the largest obstacle or you've had to overcome? I think for me its probably, popular in high school. And both internally here and making with the whole community. about interacting with other I was with that growing up. the biggest thing. On the other side of the spectrum, what do experience through all that? It's weird, I guess, ironically, the same thing. lot of great things Like help artists actually shown in the world. 5,000 people around the world awesome. And how proud they it is for them just makes it. You obviously were in a similar situation with us. and finding your passion. to us? One thing thats always been important for me, personal project, doing on the side. going to turn into. And that worked out for you, cuz here we are. on the side. Make friends and then make things with your friends. Make friends and then make things with your friends. just my motto for life. We went to the top of Sears Tower. you have to do. just sticking out the side way up in the air. don't face my fears. Pretty crazy. what to say. everything. We've been given so much knowledge and so much so many places to analyze, stories to remember. At this point in the trip, what I'm realizing is, people that I've met. what it is I want to do, It's all very possible. possibility. We're closing in on a week left in the trip pretty much. You know so when you get to the end of the well there's door one door two, three and walk through that one. New York! You know if you believe something is right and you around you, you know I believe things happen. Today is helicopter day. the city from a helicopter that empowers people life. Not Us?" first-generation college students What's so different about us? That we're able people are not able to be? Right, like why us? You know, we are first generation kids. All of us really want to find Being the first in your family going to college, changing your lives, your grandchildren, generation of lives. this is a once in a lifetime chance. To be in a room with another person, similar background to your opportunity to ask always wanted to ask. Its amazing to meet people with that business owners, CEOs. people. I think this whole trip is me stepping that I've put myself in. it's gonna be tough. where you fall down. falling down, its to make sure that you get up and move in matters, and that's forward. It's gonna be harder for you than for other make you successful, is challenges, figure out a way to you can do it. When we started this trip I'm asking No matter what you do. or where you come from You've got wisdom to pass down. Help young people find their way by you've learned. what you love to do. the doors open we're all ears 

The road-trippers try their hand at spinning molten glass with glassblower Jessica Schimpf. The world isn't looking for you, she says, you have to go out and find it--she left a big-time welding gig to follow her dreams. In Texas, the team interviews Austonites on the street and goes for beignets and palm readings in New Orleans before hitting crowd-powered T-shirt purveyor Threadless in Chicago.
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Make it Your Own

I had graduated from high school, went to a year of college and just was restless. eventually started cooking socially. this is what I've been looking for. is just the crawfish boil. standing around a big table, newspaper, stuff dripping down your arms, the table or next to you or it's fun is and what they bring to the table. kind of fell into cooking, that you were doing for fun. I can make this into a career? with a chef who was somebody I had known. then eventually I began office and asking him questions. more of a mentor to me and sharing a lot of things and pushing me. getting a little bit more involved and like, I can do this, I can really do this. going out on your own and of the one with your mentor? think it was November. kind of be Charles in charge. just realized that I did have kind of how I wanted the food to taste and look. part was that I had a standard says, no that's not good enough. I really was on fire. strength finally from that. that we usually ask everyone. would you give people in that situation? pinpoint something, but that you could impart on us. of a hurry to get to that top position. foundation, learn your technical skills. commit for a decent amount of time, variety of experience so that you go forward with. that when you do finally get to that then you have a really solid foundation. to be creative. if you develop your technical skills, if you know how to roast and do all these different things. I didn't work in more places, and kind the one saying, okay this is how it is. 

Culture

Experience

Goals

Passion

Interview

Don't be in too big of a hurry to get to that top position. get a great foundation, work a lot of different places. try to get a good variety of experience so that you go forward with. that when you do finally get to that where you have a really solid foundation, to be creative. you can develop your technical skills. if you know how to roast, and saute, and things, you gotta know that stuff. didn't work in more places and kind of see the one saying, okay, this is how it is. 

Exploration

Susan Spicer Highlight

My mom's a great cook. of foods for us when we were growing up. we're all big eaters. day it would be Indonesian Bami Goreng and red cabbage, you know. waffles for dinner one night, you know? >> So it was always kind of like a mystery know, we just always liked her cooking. I think that kind of made an impression. the kitchen counter a lot, watching her. 

Family

Learning to Cook

The food community in general in New Orleans in terms of other chefs other cooks. there's a lot of camaraderie. I guess and I'm sure there is that, about really having a good time, kind of helping each other. enjoyed that and I like people that or tend to be pretty colorful and interesting which I like sort of. of a straight arrow, I guess. around people like that. 

Community

Food Community

I really enjoyed the process of collaboration, 30 years. ideas just recycled a thousand >> [LAUGH] of the menu creation, experience is, and what their ideas are. once you're the boss, new ideas from somewhere. what their experience is, and That seems a common team among all that we talked to so far in the trip. like it enhances the creativity in the. passing on what I know, you know, 

Talent

Process of Collaboration

How do you define success for yourself, in your life, and in your job? we are still in business [LAUGH]. >> For 24 years and a lot of competition. a livelihood for lots of people and meeting and tour guests. and a lot of regulars have become friends, I think that brings a lot of happiness. 

Susan Spicer

Chef

Videos

Susan Spicer

Milestones

Career

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

My work combines:

Business

Food

Accomplishing Goals

Interviewed By

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