Do I have to go to school to become a pastry chef?
Question:
Answer:
You can apprentice, but the trouble is finding a chef to take you on. Going to a culinary school will expose you to several different chefs with different knowledge and different methods. If your goal is to work in a pastry kitchen for the rest of your life then apprenticeship may be for you. If you have plans to move up the management chain then you will have to have schooling at some point. I graduated from the CIA's B&P program in 02 and it was definitely worth the time and expense. I learned from Masters Chef's and Master Baker's all with different approaches to the industry.
No. Try to make friends with your local baker. Why go to school when many friendly people are willing to take you under their wing?
no, but it's hard to find chefs that are willing to hold your hand through everything. Culinary school teaches you the basics which are the foundations to doing everything. I'm in culinary school and I think it makes it easier to get a foot into the industry because your teachers are the first networks into the industry.
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