What does a Sous Chef Do in the Kitchen?

What does a Sous Chef Do in the Kitchen?

Although it is the head chefs that get all of the attention from the media, the role of the sous chef is just as important. It can even be said that a chef is only as good as the team behind them. After all, the head chef is just not physically capable of executing every single dish in a restaurant at the same time. They must rely on a team of cooks to execute their vision. The sous chef is also included in this culinary team. Here's what you need to know about the important role of the sous chef.

What is a sous chef?

The sous chef is the second in command of a professional kitchen and works directly under the executive chef. "Sous chef" is a French term that actually means "under chef." As the chef's primary assistant, the sous chef is expected to take on a lot of responsibility in the kitchen, and is the liaison between the executive chef and the rest of the kitchen staff.

What are the typical duties that a sous chef is responsible for?

As second in command, the sous chef is responsible for running the kitchen, especially in the absence of the executive chef. This includes directing the line cooks, prep cooks. and others employed in the kitchen. The sous chef is often responsible for supervising all of the lower-level employees, before, during, and after food service. In some cases, this can include taking disciplinary actions against those employees who fail to perform up to expectations.

If anything goes wrong in the kitchen, the sous chef is typically responsible for handling the issue so that the executive chef doesn't have to. The sous chef is also responsible for handling any other duties that the executive chef requires in order to keep the restaurant running as smoothly as possible.

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How does the role of sous chef fit in the progression to becoming a chef?

Being a sous chef is typically the final stepping stone before becoming an executive chef. In this position, the sous chef can gain first-hand knowledge of what is necessary to become an executive chef. This way, they will be better prepared to take on the role of chef in another restaurant in the future. In many cases, sous chefs can even be promoted to executive chef in the same restaurant, if the current executive chef leaves or retires. The hands-on experiences gained through working as a sous chef could be invaluable in the future.

How can you become a sous chef?

To become a sous chef, you can start by taking any available job in a kitchen and work your way up. This can include dishwasher, prep cook, line cook, or other job roles, depending on the restaurant. However, this can take a significant amount of time, depending on the turnover rate in a particular restaurant and the executive chef's willingness to promote from within.

Instead, you can often reach your goals more quickly by getting an education in the culinary industry. This way, you'll likely be able to start your restaurant career from a higher initial position due to already having increased training and knowledge. This way, you can reach the top of your game much more quickly than if you were to start from scratch.

What does a Sous Chef Do in the Kitchen?

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