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Chefs or Cooks?
 Mathis Fender
Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a great cook and a chef? Well, there is a difference and it comes down to training. Chefs have gone to a culinary school and earned a degree anointing them a chef. Cooks, while they may be every bit as great in the kitchen, have not been classically trained in the culinary arts, but have learned the trade some other way. Chefs also hold the responsibility of planning the menu at a restaurant, while cooks are the people that actually implement the menu, i.e. prepare and make the food.
You do not necessarily need to be a trained chef to become a success or prepare food in a prestigious kitchen, or even to have a show on television! Rachel Rae and a host of other food network celebrities are not chefs. That does not mean that there is not a need for culinary schools; they are a great way to learn the trade especially if you dont have a restaurant in the family or restaurant quality equipment in your home.
If you want to learn to cook or if you want to improve your skills, a culinary school is probably your best option. Some culinary schools even have classes for kids. Cooking is an excellent way to take control of your diet, express your own creativity, and it never hurts to throw it out that you can cook on a first date.
If you are serious about enrolling in a culinary school you should know what you want to do before enrolling. For example pastry arts is completely different than culinary training and hotel restaurant management and so on. Many culinary schools offer classes that are geared more for those just looking for fun. If you are new to cooking and interested in learning a little about cooking, I highly recommend a just-for-fun type of class. They are fun and relaxed classes that will really teach you a great deal. Take a not-so-serious class and you will know whether or not becoming an experienced cook or even a full-fledged chef is for you.
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