{"id":17644,"date":"2021-03-15T15:42:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-15T20:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/?p=17644"},"modified":"2025-08-04T20:06:48","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T01:06:48","slug":"how-to-find-a-mentor-to-help-you-in-your-culinary-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/how-to-find-a-mentor-to-help-you-in-your-culinary-career\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find a Mentor to Help You in Your Culinary Career"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re serious about a culinary career, you probably understand the value of a chef mentor<\/a>. These experienced culinary pros can help you create a plan for your career, hold you accountable when you commit to taking the next steps, and make valuable introductions to other chefs and culinarians.<\/p>\n

However, knowing<\/em> you need a culinary mentor and finding<\/em> a culinary mentor are very different things!<\/p>\n

Mentors are all around, if you only know where to look. Here are some resources you can access in your search for a chef mentor, both during and after your culinary school education.<\/p>\n

Make the Most of Chef Instructors<\/h2>\n

Culinary school students have an enormous advantage when it comes to finding mentorship, due to their access to experienced, educated Chef Instructors<\/a>. These experts\u2019 goal is to help prepare you for life after school while they teach what they know about cooking and hospitality.<\/p>\n

Some Chef Instructors at Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts have decades of knowledge, and they can\u2019t possibly impart it all in a 30-week diploma or 60-week degree program. So they\u2019re often happy to provide mentorship and guidance to students both during their schooling and after. Ask plenty of questions and show the instructor that you value their input.<\/p>\n

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\"Chef“What I love most about my job is seeing my students progress week after week, and to share the knowledge I once got from my mentors with my students.”
\nChef Cesar Herrera, Escoffier Boulder Chef Instructor<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\"Two

A mentor can help you develop your culinary skills.<\/p><\/div>\n

Escoffier graduate and U.S. Army veteran Tiffany Moore was encouraged by her Chef Instructors to stick with her education after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Now, Tiffany is in great health and on her way to opening her own farm-to-table restaurant!<\/p>\n

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\"Escoffier“I got my MS diagnosis while I was going through school, and I almost quit. I reached out to one of my Chefs, and she just encouraged me, and she told me of a chef by the name of Paul Prudhomme who ran his kitchen from a wheelchair. My instructor told me that I didn’t have to stop and checked on me all the time through text and email. The support from Escoffier was there when I was going through a life crisis.”
\nTiffany Moore, Escoffier Online Culinary Arts Graduate<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

If you find that you\u2019ve bonded particularly well with a Chef Instructor, ask them if they\u2019d be willing to share their contact info, so you can continue to check in throughout your career.<\/p>\n

Join a Culinary Organization<\/h2>\n

There are dozens of culinary associations that can be excellent sources of mentorship. Any group that gathers chefs and cooks together, either online or in-person, could be a great resource for finding a helpful guide.<\/p>\n

The American Culinary Federation<\/a>, for example, has a structured mentorship program. Chefs must apply and complete mentor training in order to take part.<\/p>\n

We also share a namesake with two chef organizations! Disciples Escoffier<\/a> and Les Dames d\u2019Escoffier International<\/a> are both networking and philanthropic groups for chefs and other culinary professionals. These invitation-only groups count some of the best of the best among their members – some of whom are also Escoffier Chef Instructors.<\/p>\n

\"Disciples
\nThere are also specialty organizations that you could join, depending on your field. Escoffier graduate and Research Chef Consultant Chris McAdams has both received and provided mentorship through the Research Chefs Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other niche groups include the United States Personal Chef Association<\/a> and the American Personal & Private Chef Association<\/a>. And of course, there are local chef organizations where you can seek mentorship in your area.<\/p>\n

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\"Chris“One of the things that’s really helped me in my position is my relationship with the Research Chefs Association, which gives me a whole battery of folks who also work in food development careers, and who are willing to answer questions, support each other, and do things together. No one person can ever have the answer to every problem.”
\nChris McAdams, Research Chef & Boulder Culinary Arts Graduate<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Look Close to Home<\/h2>\n

Many culinary school students work in the industry, even while they\u2019re completing their education. And all students at Escoffier will complete an industry externship<\/a> as part of their curriculum. Is there a mentor in the kitchen with you?<\/p>\n

\"Chefs
\nThe sous chef or executive chef at your job or externship could be a great fit for this role. Obviously, the executive chef can\u2019t be a mentor to every cook in the kitchen. But some cooks aren\u2019t looking for mentorship or career building. To them, working in the kitchen is just a job.<\/p>\n

As a career-oriented cook or chef, you will stand out among the rest of the kitchen crew when you approach a leader on the team for advice and guidance. And if they\u2019re not available, they may be able to recommend another chef in their network.<\/p>\n

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\"Chef“I recommend people find mentors and learn from as many people as you can along the way.”
\nChef Ben Robinson of the Bravo network hit show \u201cBelow Deck Mediterranean<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Access the Auguste Escoffier Alumni Association<\/h2>\n

For Escoffier graduates, the Auguste Escoffier Alumni Association<\/a> is a prime place to find a culinary mentor.<\/p>\n

Students who are preparing for their externship will gain early access to the network. When graduates set up their profiles, they can indicate whether they\u2019re looking to receive mentorship or provide mentorship to new graduates. When students log in, they\u2019ll see a \u201cMentoring\u201d tab in the sidebar. If they click \u201cFind a Mentor,\u201d they\u2019ll be able to search for mentors among the graduates by job function, industry, company, and location.<\/p>\n

\"Auguste

Auguste Escoffier Alumni Association \u201cFind a Mentor\u201d page<\/p><\/div>\n

Tiffany Moore helps to mentor students in the Escoffier alumni network as they near graduation, helping them to make that final push as they complete their programs and offering advice for next steps. With over 2,600 members as of this writing, there could be many resources for students and graduates to find guidance.<\/p>\n

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\"Escoffier“In the Alumni Association, people tag me all the time with questions like, \u2018How was school?\u2019 \u2018How did you do this particular thing in class?\u2019 So I’m able to give knowledge as an alumnus to current students\u2026”
\nTiffany Moore, U.S. Army Veteran & Online Culinary Arts Graduate<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Escoffier is also working on additional mentorship opportunities, including a Mentoring Week and a more formal mentorship program that will be available to graduates.<\/p>\n

Is There a Right Time to Find a Culinary Mentor?<\/h2>\n

The right time is now! No matter where you are in your career, there is always someone who\u2019s been there before. Connecting with these people can help you avoid missteps and make smart choices when you\u2019re at a crossroads.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s never too soon to ask for advice, and never too late. To access the mentorship opportunities at Escoffier, start your application<\/a> today!<\/p>\n

To learn more about culinary and pastry careers, try these articles next:<\/strong><\/p>\n