Chef Pūkenga Tao Kai

Physical Requirements

Chefs need to have a good sense of taste and smell. They also need to have a reasonable level of strength, fitness and stamina as they often have to carry heavy items, such as bulk ingredients, and spend long hours on their feet.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for chefs includes:

• work as a kitchen assistant or kitchenhand
• staging (internships in chefs' kitchens to learn their techniques and cuisine)
• any work involving preparing food for others
• any hospitality industry experience
• catering experience
• bakery work.

Personal Qualities

Chefs need to be:

• reliable
• able to work well under pressure
• able to work well in a team
• willing to learn new cooking methods, recipes and menus
• organised, quick and efficient, while still being patient and careful
• creative and open-minded
• able to follow instructions
• good at planning
• good at communicating and managing people.

Skills

Chefs need to have:

• food preparation, cooking and food presentation skills
• knowledge of budgeting, stock management, and how to price and set up a menu
• understanding of hygiene and health and safety regulations
• knowledge of new developments in food nutrition, food technology and cooking methods.

Conditions

Chefs:

• usually work long hours, including evenings and weekends, and may be on call
• work in factory, hospital or school cafeterias, restaurants, cafes, pubs and rest homes
• work in kitchens in conditions that can be hot, noisy and stressful because food must be prepared quickly and to high standards
• sometimes travel to food festivals and events, or to attend cooking competitions.