A Day with a Chef

Jason Banks always had an interest in cooking and when he was a kid he enjoyed watching his grandfather cook. Family gatherings are fun and he noticed that "great food made everyone happy." When he got into high school he was old enough to get a job and he got a job in a kitchen. It wasn't glamorous, but any means, but he was in a kitchen. He "washed dishes, peeled potatoes, made salads, and fried hamburgers." When he was in his twenties he worked at a catering business with his mother for five years, but he decided that going to cooking school was going to be his destiny. Learning how to be a chef isn't all cooking. You will have to read, take tests and write papers. In addition to learning how to cook and bake, he also learned food safety and how to run a restaurant. He worked some very long hours to make his dream come true, but in the long run he feels it is worth it. He got his degree and opened up a restaurant called the Fresco. This book tells you about the long hours he works, how he plans a menu, creates recipes, the people who are critical to the success of a restaurant, how he attracts customers, how he orders food, how he knows how much to order and what goes on behind the scenes in the kitchen. This was a fascinating glimpse of a young person who eventually ended up being a top chef. Young people who are interested in pursuing a career in food service will enjoy following Jason throughout his day. He does mention that "going to a cooking school is a good way to get hired by a top restaurant, although you may still have to start out at the bottom washing dishes." If you have an aspiring cook in your family, this book and a cookbook of your choice would make a wonderful gift!

A very informative book if your child is dreaming about becoming a chef when they grow up. Goes into detail about working in a restaurant and the life of chef. The chef also happens to be easy on the eyes!! You'll love this book!