How do I get a kitchen job without going to culinary school?
Your best bet is to head out to the local chain restaurant and ask for the Back of House manager. While not the most glamorous kitchen training out there, it will give you a basic idea of how a kitchen runs in a lower pressure atmosphere (menus are canned, not much innovation, and no picky Gordon Ramsey type head chefs). Don’t worry about starting with a high up position, since with no training, no kitchen is going to start you high up – prep chef is where you will probably start. Explain to the BoH manager just what you see as your future (promotion to head chef at some point). Explain that while you have no kitchen experience, you are willing to learn and are considering taking classes in the culinary arts (and if there is a community or 4-year college with culinary arts near you, definitely take courses – there is more to being a head chef than following a recipe – you are expected to create in addition to cook. Try to talk to the manager during the slack time (say 2 to 4 in the aft
