In order to be employed in a raw food restaurant, what education would employers be looking for?

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December 27, 2008

I'd like to give you a little background, I'm truly looking for advice.

I've been vegan for 7 years and for the last 3 years worked at a vegetarian store/restaurant. I had the opportunity to volunteer at a raw food demo and help prepare food. I learned plenty and really enjoyed it.

Becoming vegan was purely an ethical choice and over the years have discovered as have so many others, how what we eat impacts our health, our planet and our fellow earth inhabitants, animals. Raw food appears to me to be the future of eating. This arena takes care of everything I care about, so I would like to continue working in this field. I'm thinking I would love to start off as a food prep assistant or assistant of some sort, as long as I can grow within the raw food sphere.

I just moved back to the states, am now living with my father and reconnecting with family, which is long overdue. I want this to be a real beginning. I can no longer commit myself to jobs that mean nothing to me. I may have the temporary luxury of entering a training program that might help me secure a job in the world of raw food. I live in San Antonio, so I don't know what my options are. Can you suggest a program I can invest in, where employers would take me seriously? I don't mind starting entry level, I just want to care about what I'm doing.

Well, if you can offer any advice, I would sooo appreciate it.

Thanks for your time. I know this email is somewhat presumptuous. I want to make the right decision! :)
Thanks again.

Robert

January 23, 2009

Dear Robert,

I applaud what you want to do. We certainly need more people to discover how important food choices are to our own health as well as the health of the planet.

I'm not quite sure what you are asking me though. You want a program that you can invest in, where employers would take you seriously? Do you mean you want to learn how to make raw food - like at a raw food culinary school? Or do you mean you are looking for an entry level at a raw restaurant where employers would take you seriously??

Please clarify.

Thanks,

Rhio

January 24, 2009

Hi Rhio,

Thanks so much for writing, sorry I wasn't more clear.

In order to be employed in a raw food restaurant, what education would employers be looking for in a potential "food prep" or "chef assistant" job candidate?
While I was still on the fence about staying in San Antonio or heading back to San Diego, I applied to a few raw or vegan restaurants in SD explaining that I'd like such a position. I didn't receive any interest. It's possible there were no job opportunities but if it was my lack of education or experience, I'd like to know what avenue would best remedy that.

Also, I would like to know of any raw food prep training you would suggest. I'm sure there's so much more than just chopping veggies. I'd like to start slow and build.
I hope this made a little more sense :)

Thanks so much for your input!!

Robert

January 26, 2009

Dear Robert,

Because the raw food diet has not been universally accepted yet, there are very few raw restaurants around, so that limits your options. Most people who are making a living in the raw food lifestyle somehow are creating their own venues, like teaching or opening restaurants or convincing cooked food restaurants to provide raw food options, or catering, meal service delivery, writing books, doing videos, etc.

At this time, until more raw restaurants open up (which is happening all the time), you will have to think about how you can forge a niche of your own.

As far as schools teaching raw food cuisine, there is none better than The Living Light Culinary Arts Institute in Ft. Bragg California. Go to their website for more info. www.rawfoodchef.com

Good luck to you.

With blessings and peace,

Rhio
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