At this point in your kitchen career path you should have learned the basics as a commis chef then expanded your horizons while developing your skills as a chef de partie. Now, you’re ready to take the next step and become a sous chef.

What is a sous chef?

Sous chef is the 2nd position in the kitchen hierarchy and will be your first role that requires much more focus on leadership. Along with the head chef, you will be managing everything going on in the kitchen and responsible for all of the food going out of it.

What does a sous chef do?

While the sous chef will still have to jump in and cook on the line from time to time, it is a role that requires more managerial work. You will be responsible for leading the brigade and the kitchen on a day-to-day basis. A good sous chef is actively involved in their kitchen and ready to help whenever their team needs them.

Some common duties of a sous chef include ensuring the kitchen complies with all health and safety measures and hiring and training new staff. You must also keep track of all inventory and supplies and order more in a timely manner.

What education do you need to be a sous chef?

There is single specific path to this job and it is possible to obtain the role without any formal training. However, sous chef is a position that requires a high level of skill and experience. If you want to give yourself the best chance of becoming a sous chef, then a culinary education will help. Studying while already working in a kitchen will give you the chance to apply what you are learning directly in your work.

What is the difference between a sous chef and executive chef?

The executive chef is responsible for overseeing all kitchen operations. They may not always be present, but they set the standard for how the chefs should prepare and present the food. A head chef creates the menu or iterates on a pre-existing one. They also collaborate with other members of the management team to hit business goals

As a sous chef, you are second in command to the head chef and will be their steady hand in the kitchen.You will step up and take over any managerial task the head chef can’t handle. 

This usually involves making sure that new staff members are properly trained, managing food costs, and that the kitchen is always stocked, cleaned, and organized. 

You will also work with the head chef to create exciting new dishes to add to the menu.

What is the career path of a sous chef?

After spending a year or two as a commis chef to master the basics of the kitchen, you will find yourself as a chef de partie.

Depending on which type of restaurants you work in, you might spend several years at this level of the kitchen. Chef de partie is a wide ranging role that can take some years and experience to master so don’t be discouraged if you’ve been at it for a while.

If you feel that you’ve learned as much as you can as chef de partie, then you should start looking to become a sous chef. If your current kitchen isn’t ready to promote you, it might be time to see which jobs are available in your area and take your skills elsewhere.

Once you gain some substantial experience in the role and prove yourself as a top-level second in command, you can start looking to make the move to an executive chef position.

What skills does a sous chef need?

Organization

To be a great sous chef, you must be highly organized. You will have many new responsibilities that you didn't have as a chef de partie. 

From helping the head chef plan the menu to training new chefs or dealing with vendors, you must be able to multitask and stay calm under pressure. You will be the main point of contact for solving problems in the kitchen and it will be much easier to help if you are running things efficiently.

Leadership and Communication

Being a good communicator is always a great skill in a restaurant, no matter what level of the brigade you are in. But when you step into a management position in the kitchen, your communication must be clear, consistent, and calm.

You must be able to communicate all necessary information to the kitchen team in a way that they can easily understand so you don’t have to repeat yourself.

You should know the best way to explain techniques when you are training chefs, clearly announce changes to the menu or weekly specials, and establish kitchen protocols for everybody to follow.

Becoming a sous chef could be the perfect move for your hospitality career. If you think you’re ready to take the next step, then check out the open sous chef positions available on Hosco today!