Get to know what a sous chef is, this is his important role in restaurant success

Behind the delicious dishes you enjoy at a restaurant, there is a big role of a sous chef. 

Maybe many people think that only the head chef is responsible for the kitchen. 

In fact, without a sous chef, kitchen operations can be messy. So, what is a sous chef? 

The sous chef is the right hand of the head chef who ensures the kitchen runs smoothly. 

Starting from managing staff, maintaining food quality, to ensuring every order comes out on time. 

Without the role of a sous chef, restaurants can experience delays in serving food. 

Customers who wait too long may feel disappointed and reluctant to return. That's why this position is very crucial in the culinary industry.

What is a Sous Chef and Why is it Important?

Sumber: Freepik

Many people are curious, what is a sous chef and why do restaurants need them? 

In simple terms, a sous chef is the second leader in the kitchen after the head chef. 

They are tasked with overseeing all operations, ensuring food quality standards are maintained, and handling problems that arise during restaurant operating hours.

Without a sous chef, the head chef has to handle all the tasks alone, which can be overwhelming. 

Therefore, the presence of a sous chef helps ensure everything goes according to plan.

The hope is of course that the food can be served with the best quality. 

Their role is not only about cooking, but also managing the work rhythm of the kitchen team so that it remains efficient.

Read Also: Important! Pay attention to these 5 things when opening a restaurant business

Sous Chef Duties in Restaurant Operations

Source: Freepik

Many people think that a sous chef's job is only to help cook. In fact, their responsibilities are much greater. 

Here are some of the main duties of a sous chef:

1. Supervise all kitchen operations

A messy kitchen can cause orders to be slow and food to come out in conditions that are not up to standard. 

The sous chef's job is to make sure everything goes according to plan.

They control the cooking process, check whether there are enough food ingredients, and ensure that the kitchen is maintained clean.

2. Arrange Schedules and Coordinate Kitchen Staff

Restaurant kitchens usually have many staff with different duties. 

The sous chef is the person who is responsible for dividing tasks, arranging work schedules, and ensuring that each staff works according to their respective portions.

They also act as a liaison between the head chef and kitchen staff, ensuring communication runs smoothly.

3. Maintain food quality according to restaurant standards

Customers always want delicious, consistent food every time they come to a restaurant. 

Therefore, the sous chef's job is to ensure that every dish that comes out has the same taste, appearance and texture.

If there is an error in serving, they will take action before the food reaches the customer.

4. Manage Supplies and Food Ingredients

Without enough materials, the kitchen cannot operate properly. 

The sous chef is the person who ensures that the stock of ingredients is always available and according to needs.

The sous chef's job is to check food ingredients, organize orders with suppliers, and ensure that no ingredients are wasted.

5. Help develop new menus

Restaurants must continue to innovate so that customers don't get bored. Sous chefs often work closely with head chefs to develop new menus.

So, this sous chef carries out trials, adjusts recipes, and ensures that the new menu can be executed well by the entire kitchen team.

Read Also: 5 Important Tips for Restaurant Kitchen Management for Beginners

Why is Sous Chef a Crucial Position?

You could say, the sous chef is the "brain" of the restaurant kitchen, why? 

Because the sous chef makes sure everything runs smoothly, from the moment the restaurant opens until it closes. 

Well, without a sous chef, there are several problems that can arise:

• Delay in serving food
• Kitchen team coordination becomes chaotic
• Food quality is inconsistent
• Errors in managing food stocks

Therefore, the role of the sous chef is very important in maintaining the stability of kitchen operations. 

So, becoming a sous chef requires important skills, you know! Anything?

Skills a Sous Chef Must Have

Not everyone can be a successful sous chef. There are several skills that must be mastered to carry out your duties well.

1. Ability to Lead a Team

The sous chef must be able to lead the kitchen team and ensure everyone is working according to their duties.

2. Good Time Management

The kitchen is a busy place. Sous chefs must be able to manage time so that all orders are completed on time.

3. Strong Understanding of Cooking Techniques

Apart from managing the kitchen, sous chefs also have to master various cooking techniques so they can help the team when needed.

4. Accuracy in Managing Stock of Materials

Mistakes in stock can leave the kitchen short of ingredients. The sous chef must be able to ensure the stock remains safe.

5. Ability to Adapt to Situations

In the kitchen, situations can change quickly. Sous chefs must be able to think quickly and solve problems without panicking. 

With this skill, a sous chef can work more efficiently and help the restaurant achieve success.

Conclusion

Now you know that sous chef is a very important position in the success of a restaurant. 

Sous chefs not only help with cooking, but also manage the team, manage stock, and maintain food quality.

If you have a restaurant, make sure the kitchen team works more efficiently with digital systems such as ESB Kitchen. 

So, through this technology, kitchens can be more organized, orders can be processed faster, and customers are more satisfied. 

Come on, optimize your restaurant kitchen operations with ESB Kitchen now!