Parents pay close attention to what their kids eat in school. The meals vary from school to school, depending on population and fees. Some institutions have ordinary cooks, while others employ professional chefs to prepare food and run the kitchen. School chefs understand a lot about food. They know the importance and nutritional value of certain foods to kids. They develop menus that help their growth and love for food as kids can be picky. Bristol has some high-end schools that utilize chefs. So, what school chef jobs are there to be done?
Chef roles in schools
The title ‘chef’ is quite broad, catering to several roles. Most people who’ve attended culinary school leave as chefs. However, each has a particular role in which they do best. The role dictates the job you’ll take or the position to fill. Schools mostly hire one or two chefs to prepare all meals. A few others get chefs as per their cooking needs, e.g., one for pastries and another for main meals. Below are the different school chef jobs you can find.
Head school chef job
In restaurants, this chef is ranked below the executive chef and reports to him. In schools, however, the head chef takes the lead. They handle the day-to-day activities of the institution’s kitchen. They supervise other chefs or cooks and monitor their performance. They cook, or in some instances, they let other cooks do it. They also create menus and recipes for use and inspect the food before it is cooked. They create a foodstuff budget, deal with the school food supplies and report to the management.
Breakfast chef job
They are mostly found in boarding schools breakfast is catered for. These chefs are professional cooks, meaning they understand all kinds of food preparation. Nevertheless, they specialize in breakfast only. The chef takes control of the breakfast shift, ensuring good food is put out. They also create menus with different breakfast dishes for the children.
Assistant school chef job
Also called the sous chef and works closely with the head chef. They report to the head chef about the ongoings or progress of the kitchen. They assist in menu and recipe development and determining the food inventory needs. The close working relationship between them and the head chef allows them to take over in case of absence. At this point, they assume all roles of the lead chef in the school and bring them up to speed upon return.
Relief school chef job
Most school chef jobs are permanent by this one isn’t. Schools seek these chefs when wanting to feel a certain position or shift temporarily. Most of them are freelancers working from kitchen to kitchen, so they are under short contracts. The chefs may take on multiple tasks or focus on a single section following the agreement. They run the school kitchen, ensuring everything is okay. They prepare meals or may get assistance from other cooks and instead supervise their progress.
Pastry chef job
The chefs are responsible for making delicious confectionery and deserts. Pastry eating isn’t a daily occurrence in schools. Kids can have them once in a while or on special occasions. Pastry chefs in schools design seasonal menus and recipes for future use. They also prepare ingredients and handle the baking bit of it. They are in charge of the baking section of the kitchen and all equipment needed to complete the job.
Final words
The above jobs are examples of roles played by chefs in schools. Schools have varying preferences, so it’s rare to find all these chefs in a single institution. Some prefer one or two with knowledge of every section or hire a relief chef to fill the desired position. Most of these chef job openings are posted online in the UK and other regions. With the right skills and qualifications, you can get a chef job in one of the schools in Bristol. Check out our jobs opening. Also, Feel free to join our community of chefs to learn more about the jobs.