Alex Askew outlines his top five recommendations to start a career in the food and hospitality industries.
Alex Askew started his restaurant career at 14-eventually attending the Culinary Institute of America to learn more about the art of cooking and the history of eating. In 1993, he helped co-found the Black Culinarian Alliance (BCA) to increase community awareness about food and to support people of color in the food and hospitality industries.
Q: What are the top five things a person could do now to get moving in a career in the food and hospitality industries?
A:
- Learn about the food industry. There is more to the food industry than being a chef. There are positions in food science, research and development and nutrition. In hospitality there are also many positions in management, restaurant design and food styling. There is almost no limit to what you can do.
- Go to school. You do not have to go to the best school, but go to a good school with a solid curriculum. Things to look for in a curriculum are:
- Strong accounting and math courses. These are good for understanding the business side of these industries.
- Classes emphasizing the connections between wine, spirits and foods. Knowing these pairings enhances your skills.
- Instruction on classical and American cuisine. These are the ‘must know' cuisines in the industry.
- Classes in food science. Food science explores the different chemical reactions that occur in food.
- Find places to work that demonstrate clear examples of where you want your career to go. This is important because you will not only see what is possible, but you will also be able to start climbing the ladder toward your career goal.
- Get a mentor. Personal attention from an experienced professional not only gives you an opportunity to gain knowledge about the industry, it helps you build important relationships.
- Build a network. When you meet the right people or familiarize yourself with various industry players, these connections will be helpful to you throughout your career, even when things change.
