The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Chef de Partie
Index
If you have a passion for cooking and are ready to take your career to the next stage, then a Chef de Partie role may be for you.
What is a Chef de Partie?
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Job Description
So, what does a Chef de Partie actually do? And are you cut out to begin a career in that industry as well?
A chef de partie (also known as a station chef or line cook) ranks third under the head chef and the sous chef. You will need to have worked your way up to this position and have a few years’ experience, perhaps as a commis chef who assists the chef de partie.
As a Chef de Partie you will be in charge of one area of production of the kitchen, for example pastry, fish, sauces or vegetables. In large kitchens, a Chef de Partie could have several assistants.
There are many different titles that are part of the brigade system, each responsible for different types of cooking. There’s bound to be one that catches your eye.- Sauté
- Fish
- Roast
- Grill
- Fry
- Vegetable
- Pantry
- Butcher
- Pastry
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Hours of Work
Restaurants are open for business all hours of the day. Some open early mornings for breakfast, some in the afternoon and some stay open late at night, not to mention weekends and public holidays - there’s no rest for the catering industry. This means that you will have to be flexible and sacrifice your social life to become a Chef de Partie. You may have to work split shifts, which includes two shifts in one day.
Depending on the restaurant, you will most likely be required to work a minimum of 40 hours per week.
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Main Responsibilities
So, what will your main responsibilities be as a Chef de Partie?
Duties typically include:- Cooking food for the specific area
- Assisting in preparing menus
- Preparing ingredients
- Supervise junior chefs
- Keep your area clean and hygienic
- Ensure high quality of production and presentation of food
- Maintaining and ordering stock
- Prepare all dishes to the correct recipe and quantity
- Take charge in the absence of the Sous Chef
- Attend training courses when required
Key Chef de Partie qualifications
Do you have the qualifications to get the job?
You will need to have certain qualifications to impress the employers. You will also need experience before progressing to a Chef de Partie position. Some of the qualifications you could begin with are:
It would be beneficial to work in a kitchen environment whilst studying in order to get your foot in the door and to see what you could potentially end up doing. Not only will this look great on your CV, but it will also help you to engage whether or not this is the right job for you.
Vital Chef de Partie Skills
Want to know if you’ve got what it takes? These are the skills you’ll need for the role:
- Ability to work as a team but also work independently
- Ability to work to deadlines
- Communication skills
- Keeping calm under pressure
- Assertiveness
- Attention to detail
- Organisational skills
What is a Chefs de Partie salary?
Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty…
As a Chef de Partie you could earn between £18,000 and £20,000. This will depend on the location, the size and the type of restaurant, as well as your experience.
How to become a Chef de Partie
Now that you know what a Chef de Partie does, how do you become one?
You can either complete a qualification before looking for a job, or, you could start by doing an apprenticeship and work your way up. This is a lengthy process however you will learn everything you need to know in the right setting, whilst earning a qualification. Although you will start at the bottom, with hard work, determination and talent you will climb the ladder. Keep your sights set on the chef de partie position you are dreaming of and you will get there.
How to develop your Chef de Partie career
So, imagine for a second that you’ve been a Chef de Partie for some time – what next?
It’s great to be in a job that you can progress in, and the next step for you is to become a sous chef. You’ve been looking up to the Sous Chef for quite some time and once you have enough experience and have learned the ropes, you’ll be ready to take on the next step in your career. You could even work your way up to head chef if you put in the hard work and show how determined you really are. There’s no stopping you from reaching the top!
If you are adventurous, you could even bag yourself a job in a whole new continent. You could apply to jobs abroad or on a cruise ship, which will allow you to develop both personally and professionally, whilst learning about all different types of cooking methods and cuisines from all over the world.
So there you have it; everything you need to set out on the road to a new Chef de Partie career!
Career Opportunities
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You can find some of the best Chef de Partie roles with brands such as Patisserie Valerie, Fullers, Gino D'Acampoand many more
Other Definitive Guides by Leisurejobs
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Commis Chef
The Definitive Guide: How to Become A Chef
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Sous Chef
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Head Chef
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Dietician
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Nutritionist
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Catering Assistant
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Catering Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Sommelier
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Barista
