Your guide to become an Chef in Malaysia

Average Salary
1,500 - 2,500

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Who is an Chef

A Chef is in charge of the kitchen. From preparation, cooking and presentation of food to ensuring all aspects of the kitchen is being taken care of.

If you eat, breathe and dream about food and love the interesting chemical process of it, then you might be one of those who are born to be a Chef! The job of a Chef can be rather tiring as you will have to deal with a lot of chaos that happens in the kitchen, blood, sweat and tears but with your flaming passion for cooking, it will be worth it. In Malaysia, specialty chefs are becoming in demand.

Specialised Chefs are capable of creating solutions for specific diners who follow restrictive diets. Due to the alarming obesity rate in Malaysia, a growing number of Malaysians are cutting back on gluten, sugar, dairy, soy, and carbohydrates. Chefs like these can charge more for customised dishes because there are only a handful of them and the affluent are willing to pay for exotic food.

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The pros and cons of being an Chef

Pros

It can be a very rewarding and lucrative career for the exceptionally talented
Able to express yourself creatively and experiment with various ingredients to possibly create a new, tasty dish
Gain a sense of fulfilment by satisfying your diners

Cons

You might miss out on holidays, birthdays and other special occasions because it is crucial for a Chef to be working on a holiday as people expect to enjoy good food
Long and irregular work hours
Stressful and fast-paced environment

What are all the responsibilities of an Chef ?

Ordering your stocks
Planning the menu
Prepare the ingredients
Cook various meals
Experiment with different dishes
Present food in an appealing manner
Maintaining hygiene
In charge of kitchen operations

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Incase of any queries

What skills do you need to become an Chef?

Attention to detail

Every detail counts. Even that little stain at the side of the plate or asymmetrical decorations would degrade the otherwise classy dish. Fine dining at its best requires Chefs to have a keen eye for detail.

Organisational and time management skills

You are in the midst of preparing ingredients for the next dish while a pot of soup is boiling and the chicken pie is in the oven. Then another group of customers start placing their orders and you’re worried if you can prepare it on time before they start leaving. This is why you will need to plan carefully your day’s schedule and distribute tasks evenly among your fellow co-workers.

Ability to work in a team

You think one Chef is enough in one restaurant? Hundreds of customers stream in to the restaurant and each of them order a different dish. You’ll have to prepare, cook and clean. So if you think a Chef can handle all that, think again. A good Chef will need good communication skills because you will be working in a team. Having the ability to tactfully distribute tasks among Sous Chefs, Kitchen Assistants and Waitresses will be a valuable skill.

What field(s) of study should you choose to become an Chef?

Culinary Arts
Patisserie & Gastronomic Cuisine
Culinology
Food Management
Food Science

What are the requirements to be an Chef?

Technically, you do not need a qualification specifically in Culinary Arts to be a Chef. As long as you have the skills and creativity in creating sumptuous food, you are eligible to apply for this job. Those from other fields are also welcomed to the kitchen but with knowledge, tonnes of practice and exposure from industry professionals that is offered in a Culinary Arts course, you are able to better excel at your job. Employers also favour those who have a formal education in this field.

What are the working hours of an Chef

Work hours are longer than the typical 9-to-5 jobs, sometimes up to 12 hours a day. Be prepared to work on weekends, at night and holidays because those are peak hours.

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