How to Become a World Class Chef Like Peter Theodorou

Peter Theodorou has always been interested in the art of cooking -- right from the age of 15. Now a trained chef, Peter is well-known in culinary circles of New York, so much so that he is a consultant for major restaurants and hotels. But how did he get to where he is now?  

To answer that, you need to ask, “What does it take to be a great chef?” In a word, it’s passion. And when you mention passion, the rest follows – dedication, the desire to innovate, the urge to craft and perfect new techniques, and, finally, a feel for what the taste-buds of your clients crave.  

Business Sense and Multitasking

Beyond these there are skills that require you to have a business sense. A kitchen doesn’t exist in a void – it is influenced by economic factors. So you need to not only ensure that your kitchen produces delicious food, but also that it is produced in a cost-effective manner. The chef must maintain good liaison with the management of the hotel or restaurant too.

You can be successful as a chef only if you are a great team player. A chef always works with a team where everyone does their part to ensure quality food is produced on time, though the ultimate responsibility for the quality of the food would rest with the chef. So you need to motivate your team for greater efficiency.  

With a team to manage and the many tasks involved, a chef needs to excel at multitasking. You could be responsible for various elements of a meal, and everything needs to be completed at the right time. Decisions need to be taken quickly as well, so a great chef needs quick thinking ability so he or she can make the right decisions in tightrope situations. This is necessary to make customers happy, which is crucial for the restaurant or hotel to succeed.    

Quality and Eye for Detail

The chef must be determined to maintain the highest standards of quality, by finding the finest ingredients and fine tuning best practices to produce the best results. Honing these skills and procedures takes time and it could take years to perfect the art.

Peter Theodorou is a chef who’s taken those years. And if you believe you have these qualities or can train yourself to acquire them, you can end up being a great chef yourself.