An executive pastry chef is responsible for operating the pastry section of a club’s kitchen and preparing a wide variety of goods, such as cakes, cookies, pies and bread. An executive pastry chef is also required to plan production and develop seasonal offerings while working closely with the executive chef and sous chef. To be a successful executive pastry chef, there are several important qualities needed aside from having strong culinary skills and being able to make delicious baked goods.
Much of what a club needs to look for when hiring an executive pastry chef won’t be on his or her resume. While they may have great culinary skills, not every candidate will hold the leadership skills necessary to help run a successful pastry department. Asking how they respond to criticism, how they have handled more stressful situations, how they stay motivated, what made them choose a career in the culinary industry, and what they know about the club are some questions that can help gain insight into a candidate’s personality, competencies and capabilities.
More than just putting together impressive desserts, executive pastry chefs are a vital part of any country club’s culinary team. Executive pastry chefs are leaders in the kitchen and must also balance the creative and detail-oriented aspects of their work with a wide range of technical and administrative tasks. In addition to creating menus and experimenting with recipes, pastry chefs work with wholesale suppliers, manage budgets, manage staff and maintain commercial kitchens to health department standards.
Besides having the necessary culinary and baking skills, a pastry chef needs to be creative and detail-oriented. A pastry chef should be able to create new and unique flavor combinations and dishes that are also staying on-trend. Creativity should also be present in the presentation of the dish, along with any decorating. When it comes to decorating, a pastry chef must pay close attention to details as well as any flaws before dishes make their way to members.
The ability to plan ahead, while also thinking quickly and multitasking, are important qualities to prevent a pastry chef from falling behind on the daily workload of the job. Whether it is measuring ingredients for multiple recipes, baking or decorating, there are many tasks a pastry chef must do simultaneously. Things will go wrong or not as planned at times; in those moments, an executive pastry chef needs to be able to adapt, think quickly and stay calm under pressure, while finding a solution.
Even in moments that go as planned, a pastry chef needs to have patience. It is important for a pastry chef to remain calm and confident in any situation, as frustration can rush the process and compromise the integrity of the food. Strong organizational skills allow for the kitchen to be more efficient, cleaner and safer, and ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible in the kitchen.
An executive pastry chef of a country club must be hard-working, dedicated to the craft and willing to do the labor to learn the profession. No matter how hard-working or dedicated, there will always be criticism from both members and peers. Being able to handle, overcome and adapt based on negative feedback or member demands will only help a pastry chef to improve and become more successful in the country club industry.
For a high-level position like an executive pastry chef, employers prefer candidates with some level of professional education. To take qualifications even further and stand out from other candidates, pastry chefs can earn certifications through well-respected organizations such as the American Culinary Foundation (ACF) or The World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS). Seeking additional credentials and certifications prove that they’ve stayed current in the industry and are continually working to improve.
The role of an executive pastry chef is not an easy one, with long hours in an environment that can be fast-paced and stressful. But there are crucial skills and qualities to look for when hiring an executive pastry chef that can play a vital role in making a club’s kitchen successful. Having strong culinary and management skills is a top priority when hiring an executive pastry chef, but it is also necessary to hire a chef who will be highly involved in creating a positive experience for members with the willingness to provide a high level of customer service.