Daily Activities
When working as a dessert and pastry chef you will be required to make bread, cakes and pastries. It is also the responsibility of the dessert and pastry chef to check all equipment meets health and safety regulations and checking the quality of the ingredients being used. Other tasks aside from baking include ordering baking supplies from wholesalers and also serving customers.
Characteristics of a Dessert and Pastry Chef
- Organisation and Attention to Detail: Dessert and pastry chefs need to be organised and have strong attention to detail. Making desserts often requires various components that must all be assembled individually to create the final masterpiece. All ingredients must be measured precisely and added in the correct way and in the correct order.
- Perseverance: Pastry chefs are extremely hard working. Baking can sometimes start as early as 3 or 4 am. They are also required to work long hours and they also spend the majority of their time on their feet. This job takes lots of stamina, strength and energy to work as a pastry chef.
- Creativity and Patience: Creativity is an essential quality for a dessert and pastry chef. Patience is definitely crucial when it comes to creating desserts. Desserts can require extensive preparation and you must also be prepared for potential mistakes that may occur and having to start your dessert again from scratch.
- Knowledgeable - To be a great dessert and pastry chef, you must understand the scientific principles behind baking. You will be cooking with perishable and fragile foods and will need to understand the rules around food safety. You should also have a good understanding of nutrition and of human physiology. It is also good to have the understanding of basic design skills and how to create visually appealing desserts.
Work Environment
Many dessert and pastry chefs work in small retail bakeries or big wholesale suppliers of baked goods. They also work at ‘in-house’ bakeries in supermarkets, food store chains, hotels and restaurants. Some dessert and pastry chefs may also own and work in their own bakery shop.
Salary
The starting salary for qualified dessert and pastry chef is on average $33,869, experienced pastry chefs make upwards of $50,000. Self-employed bakers and pastry chefs can expect to earn much more than this.
Get Certified
There are several different educational opportunities for you to choose from if you want to become a dessert and pastry chef. One of the best ways to become a dessert and pastry chef is to complete a TAFE apprenticeship. These courses are excellent since you can study, get qualified as you work and even earn some extra money!
It is also a great opportunity to gain experience working in a restaurant or patisserie to get a feel of how the industry functions. Although this is a great opportunity to learn, it is also a great time to assess whether this is the career for you.