A Patissier or commonly known as Pastry Chef, is a professional who handles the Bakery division of cooking. It is a high skill culinary Art which includes the baking of cakes and pastries, pies, cookies, and breads of various kinds. This is part of the dessert section but can be merged with the starter and main course section as well, though it has developed as an independent subdivision of cookery. It is a highly creative work.
To be a Pastry Chef, you can start the process in high school itself by taking up Home Science as one of the subjects. You can then join a good chef school, and then go on to specialize in this particular field. Those who are too ambitious should go abroad for further studies as in the West this is a highly coveted and well taught branch of cooking. Along with learning, hands on experience is essential. Practice as much as possible. You can also work as an apprentice for guidance from an established professional, and gain useful insight and experience.
There are a number of good hotel management institutes in India that offer such a course. In most colleges, like the Oberoi’s Institute, you get placed with the company which allows you a platform.
As aforesaid, this is a creative field, so you have to be as creative as possible, innovate and not fear to experiment. If you have a sweet tooth it serves a good purpose as you have an idea about such category of food. You should be able to work on your foot for long hours and not succumb to pressure of work especially during festival time, parties, etc. Team work, good leadership skills and handling people and the kitchen is required.
Typically, you start your career as an intern, then go on to be a Commie 3, then 2, and Commie 1. Then you get promoted to being a Chef de partie, graduate to being the Kitchen Chef, and then you can become the Executive Sous Chef. After you have crossed all these stages, you then get the title of the Pastry Chef.
As an intern or diploma holder, you can easily earn up to Rs 7000 per month, which is around 15,000 for degree holders. When you get permanent, that is a Commie, you easily earn around Rs 25,000.
If you are highly skilled and possess sound entrepreneurship abilities, an independent venture is an option. You can start with a small outlet and if you are popular and serve specialized unique products you can soon have a chain of outlets.
