1. INTRODUCTION TO COOKERY
A. LEVEL OF SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES
SKILLS may be grouped into 3 general categories.
1) SUPERVISOR: The head of the food service, whether called Executive chef or head chef or kitchen director, must have management and supervisory skills as well as through knowledge of food production.
He should be able to:
• Organize and motivate people under him.
• Planning menus and production procedures.
• Controlling costs and managing budgets.
• Purchasing food supplies & equipment.
• Must be an experienced chef in order to schedule food production.
• Train and instruct workers.
• Control quality.
2) TECHNICALLY: The cooks are the backbone of the kitchen. These workers carry out the actual food production. They must have knowledge of and experience in cooking techniques. They must be able to function well with their fellow workers and co-ordinate with other departments. Food production is a team activity.
3) ENTRY LEVEL: This level of workers usually requires no particular skills & experience. The jobs assigned to them are stewarding or basic pre-preparation of vegetables. As their knowledge, skill & experience increases, they may be given more complex task which will eventually make them skilled chefs. Many ex-chefs begin their career as pot washers. Beginning in an entry level position and working one’s way up has been the traditional way of advancing in a food service career. Today however, who are a graduate from hotel management start at entry level already possessing a general knowledge of food production practices, which would give them a head start over other beginners who have no knowledge.
B. ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIUR IN THE KITCHEN
C Care of equipment.
U Understanding the basic method (to achieve quality).
I Integrity in handling & serving food (would I eat the food prepared by me).
S Safety in handling equipments.
I Initiatives you will have to take.
N Neatness during work & presentation.
E Efficiency of yourself.
“BE POSITIVE AND THINK POSITIVE”
The emphasis of a food service education is on learning a set of skills. But ATTITUDES are more important because a good attitude will help you not only to learn skills but also to preserve and overcome many difficulties you will face in your career. The successful foodservice workers follow an unwritten code of behavior and set of attitudes, which may we call professionalism.
Set of qualities are:-
1. Positive Attitude Towards The Job: In order to be a good professional chef you must like cooking and want to do it well. Satisfaction of doing your job well and making everything run smoothly will give you enjoyment, which you will always cherish. A chef with a positive work quickly, efficiently, neatly and safely. Professionalism has pride in their work and wants to make sure that the work is some thing to be proud of.
2. STAYING POWER: A food service personnel requires good health, physical and mental stamina and a willingness to work.
3. ABILITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE: Works as a team & it is essential to be able to work well as a team and to co-operate with your colleagues.
4. COMMUNICATION:
• With your supervisors: let them know your difficulties.
• With your colleagues: share knowledge and learn from them. No body knows everything.
• With your subordinates: respect them & be courteous.
• With the food & beverage staff: control your temper.
5. EAGERNESS TO LEARN: There is more to learn about cooking than you will learn in a life time. The food service industry is changing so rapidly that it is vital to be open to new ideas. No matter how good your techniques are, you might learn an even better way.
6. MUST DEVELOP A FULL RANGE OF SKILLS: A chef must not only a good cook, but is also important to develop and maintain other skills that are necessary for the profession.
Must be able to understand and manage food cost and other financial matters
• Manage and maintain proper inventories.
• Deal with suppliers.
• Understand personnel management.
7. EXPERIENCE: There is no substitute for year of experience. Practice more & more to gain more experience.
8. AIMING FOR A QUALITY: What ever you do must have a distinctive sign of quality.
9. CREATIVITY: Sky is a limit “Nouvelle Cuisine”.
10. RETURN TO BASIC: Experiments and innovation needs good understanding of basics.
11. CARE OF EQUIPMENT: Equipment has been put to your disposal to help you. TAKE CARE OF IT, treat it as your own, even if it does not belong to you, for others will also be using it.
12. SAFETY : Kitchens can be dangerous place injurious can occur by cuts, burns, handling of machines and equipment, falling etc. think about yours as well as others.
“NEVER RUN IN KITCHEN ALWAYA WALK”
C. PERSONAL HYGIENE.
A hygienic appearance of professional is indicated by high standards of personal cleanliness and is shown by cleanliness of hair, hands, face, clothing and shoes.Good personal hygiene helps prevent food borne disease; therefore these points must be put into practice.
• Shower or bath daily
• Wear clean clothes and uniform.
• Do not work if suffering from a communicable disease.
• Handle food as little as possible.
• Wash hands before and during work and after using the toilet.
• Keep hair clean and do not handle.
• Keep fingernails clean & shorter.
• Do not touch nose & mouth with hands.
• Do not cough or sneeze over food, use a tissue.
• Do not wear rings, earrings, jewellery & watches.
• Do not smoke in food areas.
• Taste food with a clean spoon.
• Do not sit on a work surface.
• Footwear should be clean and safe.
• Chef cap should always be worn when handling food.
• Open cuts, burns etc. must be covered with waterproof dressing.
• Persons suffering from diarrhea, sore throat, vomiting, cold etc. must not handle food.
If a person becomes aware that they are suffering from or are carrier of typhoid, paratyphoid, salmonella or staphylococcal infection, the parson responsible for the premises must be informed, who then must inform the Medical Officer of Health.
HYGIENE IN HANDLING FOOD
1. DRY FOOD STORAGE: Avoid moisture, air tight container, avoid insect & rodent.
2. FREEZER STORAGE: Well packed food with label store at -18º C, follow FIFO & thaw properly before use.
3. COLD ROOM STORAGE: Cooked items away from raw item. Store everything in container. Chill food before refrigeration. Keep temperature under 7º C.
4. HOT FOOD STORAGE: Do not reheat in Bain Marie. Cover all the food. Keep food above 65º C.
5. FOOD HANDLING:
• Work with fresh & safe food
• Use clean equipment & work table.
• Wash & wipe tools (knives, chopping board etc.) after every use.
• Wash ingredients.
• Re boil stocks, sauces, soups, milk before re use.
• Do not mix batches of cooked food.
• Use separate tools for vegetables & meats.
• Use separate tools for raw & cooked food.
• Quickly chill all high risk food for cold storage.
• Keep work area clean.
D. UNIFORMS & PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
CHEF CAP
• Should cover the hair.
• Retain sweat on the face.
SCARF
• Retaining sweat around the neck.
• Decreases risk of catching cold when going inside a walk in.
• Also brings neatness to uniform.
CHEF COAT
• Protect the chest from heat (double press, cotton).
• White colour ( shows when dirty, less heat absorber)
APRON
• Protect chef coat & trouser.
• Not used to wipe hands.
TROUSER
• Generally black or black & white check.
SHOES
• Ankle high shoes.
• Low heal
• Leather with rubber or wooden sole.
• Always wear black socks.
E. SAFETY PROCEDURE IN HANDLING EQUIPMENT
Safety procedure in handling of equipment
• Do not wash equipment unless you understand the operation.
• Use all guards & safety devices on equipment.
• Do not touch or remove food, from any kind of equipment, while it is running.
• Remove particles of food with cloth, palette knife, needle or brush from cutting machine.
• Unplug electrical equipment before disassembling or cleaning.
• Make sure the switch is off before plugging in equipment.
• Do not touch or handle electrical equipment including switches, if your hands are wet or if you are standing in water.
• Test that it is properly assembled, plug in and switch on.
• Wear properly fitting clothing and tuck in apron string to avoid getting caught in machinery.
• Use equipment only for the purpose intended.
• Stack pots, pans and other equipment properly on racks so that they are stable and not likely to fall.
