Learn the most common vegetable cutting techniques used by professional chefs, from julienne to brunoise, and improve your knife skills, speed, consistency, and kitchen efficiency.

Explore why some chefs find vegan and specialty diet requests challenging, how professional kitchens are evolving, and what both chefs and diners should understand about modern restaurant service.

Learn what a Pâtissier does, the skills required, essential pastry tools, and the role of the pastry chef within the professional kitchen brigade system.

Learn what the Entremetier Station does, the essential skills vegetable chefs need, the tools they use, and how this important brigade station supports efficient professional kitchen service.

Learn what a Rotisseur does, which skills and knives the station requires, and how the roast chef works with other stations during professional kitchen service.

Learn what a Poissonnier does, which fish and seafood skills matter, the knives and tools they use, and how the station fits into a professional kitchen brigade.

Learn what being a chef is really like, from long hours and demanding kitchen environments to career progression, culinary skills, and the tools professionals rely on.

Updated: August 19, 2026Originally published: September 26, 2021 TL;DR A cook and a chef both prepare food, but their responsibilities can differ significantly. Cooks typically focus on preparing food according to established recipes and kitchen...