Pastry Chef

I never met a dessert I didn’t like and if you feel the same way too then becoming a Pastry Chef may be a career to consider. You could work in hotels, restaurants, bakeries or if you are feeling entrepreneurial you could open your own sweet shop.

Baking pastries, desserts, breads and other baked goods are just part of the responsibilities that a Pastry Chef has. Ordering supplies, overseeing kitchen staff, creating dessert menus for restaurants with themes in mind as well as developing and testing new recipes are also part of a Pastry Chef’s duties. You will need to be very organized and have attention to detail running through your veins. Ingredients need to be measured exactly, this is not cooking where a pinch of this and a dollop of that will do, baking requires exactness and knowledge of the scientific principles of food as well as food safety. You should be aware that this job is not for the late sleepers, a typical day could very well begin at 3 or 4 am and you will be on your feet most of the day.

What course of study do you need to follow in order to enter this field? Well, for starters, you should just start baking and have fun creating your own recipes. If you are serious then enroll in a culinary school and take on a part time job in a bakery or restaurant in order to “watch and learn” from someone who can already make an array of “to die for” desserts.


Careers to Consider picks for further reading for future Pastry Chefs:

The Professional Pastry Chef: Fundamentals of Baking and Pastry, 4th Edition

The Advanced Professional Pastry Chef

The Pastry Chef's Companion: A Comprehensive Resource Guide for the Baking and Pastry Professional

Career Diary of a Pastry Chef: Gardner's Guide Series