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When people think about the "Food Service Industry" any number of visions can fill our heads depending on the types of
experiences we have had inside the industry or as a patron of fast food restaurants in the suburbs to the finest dining
facilities in the world, some of which are here in our home State of California spread from Redding to South of San Diego,
Sacramento, San Francisco and the Napa and Sonoma "wine country" gems that offer such delicate and often exotic menu choices
that can't be duplicated by even the finest French Chefs!
The reality is that the sheer numbers of jobs in food service, as well as the vast variety of opportunities make this a
field that nearly anyone with a desire for a career change should at least consider. The old days of starting off as
a dishwasher , working you way up to bellhop/table busser, then to waiter, head waiter, kitchen or bar manager, dining
room manager and general manger is still a viable career path for some. I know from personal experience how one can
go from being a bar back in a local joint to becoming the Food & Beverage Manager for a major hotel in a very short
time: I did it!
It wasn't until after some time working as an F&B manager in a West Virginia Hotel that I moved to California and
went to a culinary school (while being paid by a restaurant to do so by the way) and becoming a chef and kitchen
manager for a major, high end restaurant. I learned quickly however that this particular job was grueling and
required many hours of overtime that was not often paid because I was a salaried restaurant employee. There were
actually times that I was required by company policy to work six days in a row, eleven hour shifts at a time,
even if there was little business to support my presence. I guess what I am trying to say here is be very careful what you ask for.
Given, that was several years and many very good meals ago and I have often missed the faced paced environment of a
busy kitchen expedite line or cooking up fine cuisine for celebrities and politicians, but my current gig is a heck
of a lot easier and the money is almost as good; almost.
Fast forward now to 2011 and the career path has changed dramatically. Culinary Arts Schools are everywhere and vary
greatly to the quality of education and job placement assistance available to the student who wants to become a sous
chef or master chef or even a professional bartender in a Napa County Wine Bar. Opportunities for different kinds of
banquet staff may not require education but there are certain things that anyone seeking to enter and excel in this
filed should consider taking classes in. Numero Uno on that list for everyone is Food Service Sanitation!
This training is literally a life and death matter at times and I am extremely thankful for having had the opportunity
to take the class when I was entering my restaurant management career stint. The things I learned have help keep my
family safe from food borne illnesses like e-coli and salmonella viruses that all too often land many dining customer
in emergency rooms and leave establishment owners open to law suits.
Here at Gyl.com we strongly suggest that you look into many of the schools that specialize in the culinary and beverage
trades and do your homework before enrolling into any career school.
So contact us and allow our professional career education, certification and
licensing consultants help you find a way to make sure you best is yet to come!
Food service licensing can be issued at the state, county or local level. In Maryland the Department
of Health and Human Services issues food service permits. The number of businesses
and jobs that fit the description of food service is too many to name, but examples include
restaurants, temporary or mobile services and vending machines. In New Hampshire licensing applies
to all food services and retail stores. Opening up a new establishment
usually requires inspection and approval by a government health agency.
American Personal & Private Chef Association
4572 Delaware Street
San Diego, CA 92116
800-644-8389
619-294-2436
There are many opportunies for career changes in the Culinary Arts. Career Schools abound with course and education opportunities.
Please contact us for more detailed infomation here.
