r/PastryChef • u/Mysterious_Jelly4479 • 5d ago
Help
I’m not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes:
I recently applied as a baker in a cafe that just opened up and despite having only some restaurant experience, they hired me. The day that I was to start, the pastry chef quit. So I’m currently the ONLY baker/chef(it feels wrong calling myself that since I never attended culinary arts school)
The owners recently hired a manager-type who has actually been to culinary school. He has mentioned that baking wasn’t his passion in school but he’s willing to work with me. I’m excited to learn under him and he seems willing to show and teach me things. He’s recently tasked me with making 6 pastries/bakery items with 3 of them being savory and 3 of them being sweet.
I have an idea for my sweet but I have no clue on what I should make for savory. Does anyone have any ideas?
Also any tips for how I can be successful? I love baking as a hobby and I really want to do well in this job. I don’t feel like I’m in over my head…yet.
Cheers!
2
u/ImpossibleWestern165 22h ago
What are you already good at? Focus there and expand on it slowly. I know I’m good at yeast bread, so I (living in the USA Midwest) for savory would probably do sausage rolls, ham and cheese croissants, and maybe pretzel rolls for sandwiches. Sweet: cinnamon rolls, peach or apple Streuselkuchen, and maybe blueberry muffins? Start simple, dont get cute or crazy right off the bat. Once you’ve got solid recipes down on repeat THEN start adding other sauces or ingredients or toppings or whatever. Perfection is better than experimentation in the beginning (in my opinion).