From Chef to TV star - How to Make the Transition From Kitchen to Hollywood
January 28, 2013
•Emily Murray
•St. Louis
• 0 Comments
From Chef to TV star - How to Make the Transition From Kitchen to Hollywood
The transition from kitchen to celebrity chef status takes study and planning. Today's most popular celebrity chefs began as little-known kitchen chefs with a small circle of enthusiastic supporters who enjoyed their cooking style immensely. Some have started their own popular cooking class and others have started teaching at local culinary schools. It helps to have a bit of culinary education to balance great cooking style with food presentation and basic knowledge of ingredients that complement each other and marry well in recipes. In fact, many who have gone on to teach began their education at schools similar to the nearby St. Louis cooking schools. Creativity is another way to make the transition from kitchen to Hollywood. A creative chef has the confidence in their cooking talents to produce menus that attract attention.
Cues from the Culinary A-List
Culinary schools are a breeding ground for some of the most unique cooking styles such as the renowned Julia Child and Jacques Pepin as well as today’s Chef Gordon Ramsey. Each of these celebrities began with training and apprenticeships at upscale restaurants. Yet, their unique culinary styles were developed as a result of creative ideas of how to reinvent cooking methods and techniques from their own point of view. For example, they may start with a standard recipe for coq au vin and recreate it with a signature culinary twist by simply using slightly different blends of herbs and spices, or different varieties of wines. Many of these chefs took risks when creating new recipes. Their blends of unique vegetables, meats, fish and poultry with lesser known vegetables and fruits are a clue as to how they achieved celebrity status.
Steps to Culinary Recognition
For those who lack the usual culinary school training or cooking class skills, start with a specific goal. This can be done by self-publishing recipe books and marketing them in the advantageous places. Use the advantages of local TV to attract attention, by offering to produce a free 30-second cooking spot based on specific techniques, use of special ingredients or to promote personal recipes or published recipe books. Don't forget to extend the promotion of culinary skills to local schools and businesses as a guest cooking instructor. This works especially well in schools who want programs for students that enhance their regular cooking curriculum.
Promote Culinary Skills with Social Media
The opportunity to promote culinary skills and talents on the Internet and social media is as simple as starting a cooking blog and gathering a regular number of visitors to the blog site. Announce the blog in local media prior to the start of the blog and invite guest chefs to contribute to blog content. Link media promotions into a seamless program that expands public recognition.
You could also work on getting a traditional education at one of the local St. Louis cooking schools.
This article is presented by Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St.Louis. Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in St. Louis offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/St-Louis for more information.
Find disclosures on graduation rates, student financial obligations and more at www.chefs.edu/disclosures. Le Cordon Bleu® and the Le Cordon Bleu logo are registered trademarks of Career Education Corporation. Le Cordon Bleu cannot guarantee employment or salary. Credits earned are unlikely to transfer.