10 Reasons to Consider a Cooking Business

For most people work is something you have to do to earn money and that work is often less than stimulating, routine and without any sense of achievement or future goals.

For chefs however, their work is their passion and the rewards are not only the salary they take home every month but the creativity, inspiration and sheer joy they get from being in the kitchen.

So, if you love to cook and are passionate about food then why not develop your interest in cooking and turn it into a career? It’s no secret that the food and hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and graduates have the opportunity to work anywhere in the world.

This is especially true of students who study at any of the six Capsicum Culinary Studio campuses spread across South Africa – in Boksburg, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria.  If you have talent and are willing to work hard, being a chef is a rewarding and exciting job and one that is much in demand.

And if post-Covid predcitions are anything to go by, there is going to be even more demand for those in the food and hospitality industry. Indeed, Yale professor and social epidemiologist Dr Nicholas Christakis was recently quoted in the UK’s Guardian newspaper, saying that once pandemics end there is often a period in which people seek out extensive social interactions. Christakis says it could well be a second “roaring 20s” just as occurred after the 1918 flu pandemic.
Extensive future social interactions aside though, here are 10 more reasons why you might might want to consider a career as a chef:

1. It is a great career! If you love food and cooking why not make a career out of it by becoming a professional chef. As well as the job satisfaction, being a chef offers great career progression from Commis Chef to Demi Chef, Chef de Partie, Sous chef, Chef de Cuisine and finally Executive Chef. You also have the option of working at many different venues including restaurants, hotels, resorts, catering companies and corporate or private events.
2. It’s a growth-industry job. People will always want to eat out and, as the hospitality industry is steadily growing year on year, there are many new and challenging opportunities on offer.
3. Take your career global. Wherever you choose to live, finding work as a chef will always be an option. Whether you fancy preparing luxury meals on a cruise ship or taking one of the chef jobs in a top restaurant in London, New York or Paris, a career as a chef is highly portable!
4. You can specialise. Chefs learn by preparing and cooking all kinds of food to give them an overall understanding and a wide repertoire. But there’s plenty of opportunity to specialise if you have a passion for a certain cuisine – be it Chinese, French or Mexican – or if you love cakes and desserts you can become a pastry chef. Whatever your obsession, there are plenty of options to branch out and challenge yourself.
5. Self-employment. Some chefs spend a few years in the kitchen of a restaurant or hotel, making a name for themselves before branching out and opening their own restaurant. Some set up their own catering companies, preparing meals for private functions and events, while others invest in a food truck and sell their food at markets and social gatherings. Where there’s a gathering of people, there’s always a need for food!
6. It’s creative. Plating up food and creating new dishes is an art in itself, so the perfect profession for those with a creative streak. Chefs are always looking to create new taste sensations, new food combinations and new recipes that will bring something different to the taste buds.
7. You make people happy. People love eating out, so whether you are helping make a special event even more me memorable or a lunchtime meal more delicious, it’s good to know your work is being appreciated.
8. There is never a dull moment. Working in a kitchen can be challenging as you are under pressure to deliver and you spend a lot of time on your feet. However, if you are passionate about food and good at what you do, being a chef can create a real buzz and deliver a highly rewarding career.
9. Varied hours. This is no 9-to-5 job. Chefs work a variety of hours depending on where they work. Some restaurants are only open at night, others only during the day. Most hotels are open 24 hours (for those guests who want a late-night snack), while catering companies work shifts and corporate catering can find you prepping breakfast, lunch and dinners five days of the week.
10. Best of all – you don’t have to wear a suit! No ties for the men, high heels for the women or business suits for both. Which means less money spent on a wardrobe that’s needed for that corporate gig.

If this sounds like the sort of thing that tickles your tastebuds, then why not consider enrolling in Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Advanced Professional Chef Programme course. This, three-year fulltime course covers all major theoretical, practical and workplace components of kitchen operations, culinary practice and patisserie skill elements. Effective leadership, self-development and communication form integral parts of the programme, alongside sustainability and effective management modules. 

For more information visit one of the Capsicum Culinary Studio campuses during business hours from Mondays to Thursdays. Contact them on+27 86 111 2433 or email [email protected] to arrange a visit.