Written by Shirley Parker

Several companies have published chef software for use in the food industry. Some programs can also help the home cook keep track of recipes. And we thought the chef had it all in his or her head. No one has to do that any more, not in this amazing world of communication and instant retrieval of information-as long as the power stays on, that is.

Professional chef software users in the hospitality industry, such as the Marriott Hotels, use specific restaurant software that is also utilized by chefs in other major hotel chains and restaurants, and …

Chef Conventions come in national and regional sizes, sometimes even local sizes. You may be surrounded by huge numbers of culinary minds or be in a cozy hands-on workshop situation with a few dozen of your peers. If this is a first convention, you may be more at ease with a smaller crowd. But if you’re remote from professional support, the sheer excitement of listening to other people who understand what you’re doing will carry you past the fright and hubbub of a large convention.

If you’ve never attended any kind of convention, know ahead of time that the …

Opportunities for certified chefs are greater than the advancement available to those who haven't yet begun certification. Chef certification is not required to start a new career as a personal chef, but additional credentials never hurt anyone. The American Culinary Federation has 13 separate designations when issuing certificates to qualified professionals.

Certified chefs or not, chefs should purchase liability insurance. In many places, it's a requirement, and in today's litigious society (particularly in the United States), it's always a prudent step. When chefs only worked in posh restaurants or for the wealthy, and personal chefs were scarcely known, certification and …