Baking and Pastry Arts

Become A Pastry Chef

Growing up, did you love experimenting in the kitchen, especially baking desserts? Do you admire everything from deliciously made and delicately presented French pastries to warm, sweet morning scones? If you have a bit of a sweet tooth and have always liked working with food, you might consider a career as a pastry chef.

Pastry Chef In a Nutshell

A pastry chef is generally in charge of the pastry section, which often works in a separate area from the general bustle of the main kitchen. Pastry chefs are highly skilled kings and queens of their domain, responsible for everything from conception to presentation:

• Creating desserts, pastries and baked goods
• Developing and testing new recipes
• Overseeing assistants
• Costing and ordering ingredients
• Crafting tasty dessert menus

Pastry chefs can be found in restaurants, hotels, catering services, bakeries and even casinos, working together with executive or sous-chefs.

Education Requirements for Pastry Chefs

Employers look for formal training when hiring in this highly competitive field - and the more training and experience you have, the more prestigious the position you qualify for. The most successful pastry chefs have earned one or more of these degrees:

• Baking and Pastry Diploma or Certificate—Programs can range from a few weeks to one year. Packed with pastry courses and hands-on baking experience, this training prepares you for an entry-level baking position.
• Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts—From 9 months to 2 years, an associate's degree program combines thorough classroom training with hands-on experience, which results in a more well rounded culinary education, as well as more competitive skills to bring to the job market. These graduates often start out in higher positions than their pastry certificate counterparts.
• Bachelor's Degree in Culinary Arts—A 4-year degree program gives you not only classroom training and hands-on experience, but you can expect in-depth study in areas such as classic cooking methods, nutrition, food sanitation, how to prepare food in quantity, restaurant operations and organizational techniques. This degree prepares you for managing even the most prestigious pastry shop.

Regardless of your education and training, competent and imaginative bakers must knead their way up the culinary hierarchy.

Day in the Life of a Pastry Chef

Pastry chefs must be prepared to spend long hours on their feet overseeing many tasks at once. They cook over hot ovens, monitor the progress of their assistants, design dessert menus, order ingredients and supplies, experiment with new recipes, and coordinate their desserts, pastries and baked goods with the executive or sous-chef. They may be required to work early morning or late evening shifts, as well as on weekends and holidays. Pastry chefs, unlike other chefs, have the luxury of preparing most desserts in advance, so their jobs are usually less stress-filled than their counterparts.

Job Growth for Pastry Chefs

Pastry chef employment is projected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. However, positions in higher-end restaurants and top kitchens will always be highly competitive.

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