Cooking is as much a skill as it is a hobby. As a skill, individuals use it to define their culinary profession, unlike those who cook for fun. Chefs apply their cooking skills to prepare meals for people in different settings like schools, restaurants, company offices, and residential homes. A school chef works under the school management and performs roles as per their command. They also report to them, and we’ll expound on other extra duties below.
Duties of a chef in a school
The primary duty of a chef is to prepare meals, and the school chef isn’t any different. The food they cook may differ slightly, especially with restaurant chefs who often make special meals. School chefs don’t cook throughout. They do so at particular times of day, i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner in boarding institutions. Other roles are;
Drafting relevant menus
Menus vary between schools. Some are very detailed or diverse based on factors like the type of institution, student population, school fees, and the provided budget. The menu contains a list of foods that provide the necessary nutritional and developmental needs for particular people. The school management also receives guidance from the said menu to know what to buy for the kitchen. Additionally, the school chef may prepare meals or have other kitchen staff assist them.
A school chef keeps the kitchen clean
The chef needs to ensure the kitchen is clean and neat. Proper kitchen hygiene is paramount to preventing infection-causing bacteria, especially in children with low immunity. Health regulatory bodies have guidelines that each commercial kitchen setting must follow. Cleaning isn’t about cleaning the floor, countertops, and cookers only. Proper food storage and disposal ensure good foodstuffs are kept well to avoid contamination.
Maintains the kitchen
Besides tidying, the chef ensures the kitchen is well-maintained. All equipment must remain in good condition to function as desired and save the school a lot of money to repair or buy new items. The equipment is pretty significant to sustain the amount of food made to cater to the entire school. So, they can be expensive, and the chef works hard to prevent any breakage.
Gives authority in the kitchen
The school chef has authority over other cooks and kitchen staff. A primary power source ensures everything runs smoothly to accomplish the given responsibilities. The chef dictates who does what and at what time. They do this through word of mouth or a roaster pinned on the wall for all to see.
Organization and planning
The school chef is responsible for planning and organizing events dealing with cooking or training kitchen staff. This mandate is given to him by the school management, who decides the extent to which the chef can go. These events are necessary now and then to help better everyone’s skills so they perform better.
Keeping of records
Record keeping is a common practice in many organizations. The records help the school plan for vital things like budget, which directly affects the kitchen. The school chef indicates every item they use or what happens over a certain period. Record keeping benefits both the school management and the kitchen staff. Even when the chef isn’t around, the kitchen can operate as usual by viewing the existing records.
Bottom line
As mentioned earlier, school chefs’ primary responsibility is to prepare meals. However, they have additional duties they do in this position. A significant one is developing menus and listing foods that benefit the people. They also have authority over other kitchen staff, ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the kitchen and keep records of everything. Some of these duties are self-led by the chef while the school management directs others; hence they vary between schools.
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