When boy meets the culinary world: Advice and inspiration for young cooks

Based on TV representation, the world of professional culinary arts seems a tough one. With or without a screaming, tyrannical executive chef like Gordon Ramsay, the demands of working in a professional kitchen are consistently high. The challenge is always there to prepare the best food from the best quality ingredients under immense time pressure.

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A host of opportunities await the young cook who dares to take on the challenge. Head chef is the ultimate dream of many aspiring cooks, so as becoming sous chef. Both jobs take on the challenging but rewarding job of navigating the course of the professional kitchen.

For the aspiring cook, walking into a big kitchen can be an intimidating, fearsome experience. But here are ways to help the novice cook confront the initial anxiety and help run the kitchen with flying colors.

1. Focus. Cat Cora, the first female chef on "Iron Chef America" and host of "America's Best Cook," admits to facing the same nerve-wracking feeling in every challenging kitchen situation. But when the head starts spinning in anxiety, she says: "I just look down at my food, get my thoughts together, and tackle it again.”

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2. Move with efficiency. A huge kitchen is as noisy and chaotic a busy street. Get distracted by the chaos and stress and you'll end up running around like a headless chicken. Collect your thoughts, put a premium on preparation, and cut all unnecessary moves. Also, avoid talking unless spoken to or when needing clarification.

3. Never pretend to know more than what you can do. The rule of thumb is to under-promise and over-deliver. Try to impress colleagues and the chef not by floating intimidating French terms but by learning the most complex techniques and producing a consistent product.

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Civic hero and Cornell University student Justin Crell was once an aspiring cook who worked his way up to become a sous chef in a New Jersey restaurant. Visit this site to know more about his work and advocacy.

The benefits of being a volunteer

Got time to spare? Try volunteering, and reap benefits from it.

So, what rewards are in store for the volunteer? Perhaps not the kind that people get from a personal hobby or a hotshot career, but are certainly never short of gratifying.

Volunteerism builds character. Programs like United Nations Volunteers program do a great job at tapping everyday heroes. Mobilizing thousands of volunteers every year, the UNV program believes volunteer work is empowering, both for the society and the individual partaking in it. Volunteers get to learn selflessness while they rebuild trust, solidarity, and mutual concern among the people they are helping.

 

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Everybody can be a hero in volunteerism. Nobody is too young or too old to touch and transform lives, and no help is too big or too meager. Take the case of Justin Crell, who, back when he was in eighth grade, started raising thousands of dollars by selling stuffed teddy bears for children who cannot pay for a much-needed medical attention.

 

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Volunteer work is not all about gathering warm bodies, as common perception would have it. More than having a heart for making a difference, volunteers need skills to get things done. People may lend their skills and talents--cooking, singing, even blogging and social media marketing--as a way of showing they care. And the payback? Some volunteers are able to build on or sharpen their abilities, creating experiences worth including in their résumés.

 

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For the health-conscious, volunteerism benefits the mind and body, according to some studies. About 100 to 200 hours of volunteer work increase physical activity and reduce stress, leading to lower blood pressure levels and consequently a lower risk against heart disease and related illnesses. It also makes people feel socially connected, boosting moods and preventing depression.  

Starting at a young age, Justin Crell has been doing volunteer work for various nonprofit and community organizations. Visit this blog to know more about making a difference in the community.