Chef School Review is a guide to chef schools offering education, diplomas, and degree programs (including Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Programs) in cooking and culinary arts.

By Kirk Bangstad
Kirk.bangstad@chefschoolreview.com

Success as a caterer can often lead to other opportunities in the restaurant/hospitality industry. Catering also offers a lifestyle alternative to being stuck behind a desk. If you feel like your current career is stalling, and you have a passion for cooking, keep reading. A catering career could be right up your alley.

Catering—A Low-Risk Business

Catering is a great way to determine whether you have what it takes to earn a living as a cook because you don’t have to spend a fortune starting the business. Catering parties or other functions don’t necessarily require a lot of overhead. You’ll need your basic cooking tools, but you can charge the client for most everything else including food, beverages, and disposable dishware. Labor costs for catering generally don’t run that high, especially if you start out small and do most of the work yourself or with a partner. If you price your services right, you’ll generally be able to turn a decent profit right from the start of your catering career. Business will probably pick up if people like what you’re cooking and tell their friends. You can also encourage word of mouth by making cards and menus available during parties.

The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC) prepares more students in the Chicago area for successful careers in food service than any other culinary school — using the traditional, European hands-on approach to culinary education that was previously difficult to obtain in the Midwest. Affiliated with the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, CHIC combines classical cooking techniques with leading-edge American technology.

Get a Head Start at Catering School

There’s no question that catering professionals live and die by the quality of their food. If you want your catering business to thrive, you’ll need to offer a diverse menu that tastes great. If you need to expand your culinary repertoire, you may want to enroll in a catering school. Catering schools specialize in teaching students how to cook appropriate party food including appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. A catering school will also teach students how to plan for parties of various sizes, and how to run a small business.

If you spend some time learning about the catering business, you’ll be able to enhance your culinary repertoire and brush up on your business management skills. This training period will help you start your catering career with confidence and a much needed sense of direction.

About the Author

Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University

Posted on September 26, 2005 at 2:20 PM

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