You don’t become a chef to become famous Dweet fi di love mi nuh dweet fi di likes

BY NOEL CUNNINGHAM

Culinary arts is one of the longest industries around. Remember the stories in the bible where Jesus turned water into wine and also multiplied the two fish and five loaves?

Culinary arts, in which culinary means “related to cooking”, is the art of preparation, cooking, and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals done by a culinary artist better known as a chef. To be considered a chef, or even an executive chef you need years of training and experience to learn the foundation of the art in order to understand the hows and whys. A chef is more than just cooking good tasting food or plating beautiful dishes. As a chef, you are expected to think like a scientist, organize like an accountant, inspire and motivate like a warrior, move like a track star, plate like an artist but most of all cook like a grandma. Sounds like a lot right?

These days a lot of people believe that wearing a chef jacket makes you a chef or it’s an easy way to become famous. I couldn’t agree with Chronixx more “Dweet fi di love mi nuh dweet fi di likes.” When I first decided to do culinary it was for the love of the art; I was inspired by my mom and aunt who are very good cooks. I later realized that you can be so much more than just a chef in the kitchen by doing culinary arts. For example, a food writer, food stylist, media personality and the list goes on. I strongly believe that there is no shortcut to success. My definition of success is, hard work plus preparation meets opportunity.

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how to become a successful chef.  Then I would ask what is your definition of a successful chef and the answer would be a chef that is famous or on TV. As a chef who has been on several television shows in Jamaica, Canada and the US I must say it feels really good to be recognized for your work or to teach others what you know, but that wasn’t my primary aim when I started my culinary journey.

A lot of chefs get depressed because they are hungry for fame instead of focusing on the real work which is cooking. Most of the chefs that are famous or hold celebrity status have been cooking for 20 to 30 years. That’s years of hard work, dedication, passion, and perseverance. Being a chef may be the toughest job you’ll ever love. With the introduction of social media, most people believe that once they start posting some food, getting likes and followers they are a chef. Then what is breaking down the culinary industry are those people or companies that go after the person with the most followers while the chefs with the real talents are overlooked. To all my chefs or chefs at heart remember it’s the tiny details that separate the professionals from the amateurs and the average cook from a truly great one.

“Dweet fi di love mi nuh dweet fi di likes” ~ Chef Eric Ruppert