Swiss Hotel School student discusses his passion for food
If you have the skills to be a chef but not the passion, don't do it, says Asanda Radebe.
Asanda Radebe (23) writes
I am a third-year culinary student at The Swiss Hotel School.
One of the main things I enjoy about my studies is that it is not only theory-driven. Whatever we learn in class we get to put to the test in the kitchen. We are constantly learning something, whether you are a first-year chef, second-year chef, third-year chef, or even a senior chef. Our mentor, even he is constantly learning something because there is always something to learn.
One of the things that stuck out for me recently had nothing to do with food, per se, but it had more to do with production: Time management, planning, when to cook food, how long it can last, how we can do things to improve customer satisfaction.
My goal is to be a chef for five to 10 years and stay in the industry. I would like to do my wine sommelier course so I can broaden my horizon with wine knowledge and in my 30s going into 40s become a private chef. I will be a specific type of chef to A-list people or celebrities.
What got me into food was my mother. She has been cooking since she was a child because of my late grandmother. But we have always been passionate about what we eat, what we cook at our house. From there I had a love and passion to be at the same level as my mom.
The industry is a pressure cooker, so if there was one thing, I would change it would be that. Depending on which chef you work with you can be on the receiving end of a lot of screaming and shouting. But for the most part it is not because they are attacking your character or something like that. It is because we are under intense pressure and strict regulations to deliver the best quality of food every single night. It does take a tough skin.
My advice to those thinking of studying to be a chef is that it actually has nothing to do with skill. It is all about passion. Whether you are a good chef or not, if you do not have the desire to be it you will not last five years. If you have the skills for it but not the passion, I would not recommend it.
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