Food Service Jobs Key Terms

Learn about food service jobs with some sizzling key terms

By Meredith Fagioli

If you are new to the food service industry and are thinking that this might be a good career move for you, or if you are looking to add some new jobs to your restaurant or eatery, you should have a basic knowledge of what is available to you. An easy way to get a solid grasp on food service jobs is to learn a few key terms that can give you a background on what to expect.

Culinary arts

The term culinary arts refers to all of the jobs in the food service field. These jobs can be pastry chefs, bakers, or restaurant managers.
Try: If you'd like to see more information on culinary arts or the fields that it refers to, visit All Star Directories.

Hospitality management

Hospitality management is what a person who would like to manage a restaurant in a hotel or a cruise line must learn. It entails not only learning what will go on in the kitchen, but also any office related work, such as payroll or ordering food supplies.
Try: At Culinary Careers, you can learn more about the classes necessary to learn hospitality management.

Bartender

The bartender is one of the more popular roles in the food service industry. This person is responsible for making and creating all of the drinks that a restaurant has on the menu.
Try: If you'd like to read more on what a bartender does, visit The Webtender.

Hosting

Many restaurants or eateries hire someone for the role of hosting. This person will direct diners to their seats, take reservations, help with coat checks and organize any special events.
Try: At the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can find additional information on the role of hosting in the food service industry.

Sous-chef

The sous-chef is the second in command to the head chef in a restaurant. This type of chef is primarily situated in the kitchen and is in charge of creating the daily specials and supervising the kitchen staff.
Try: To learn more about the role of a sous-chef, and of the other chefs in the hierarchy, visit CuisineNet. They have detailed explanations for each level of chef.

Signature chef

A signature chef is typically known for a specific dish or cooking style. Their end dishes normally have some type of elaborate finish to them, also. They can also be known for changing run of the mill dishes and adding a special ingredient of their choosing to make the dish something completely different.
Try: If you'd like to read more on the role of the signature chef, visit iHire to find additional details on this and other roles.