Have Been Looked Down On For What You Do?
Decorating By DisneyDreamer Updated 11 Aug 2009 , 3:32am by CakeRx
I find that more and more when people ask me what i do and i tell them im a pastry chef i get a few different responses none are all that kind. Ive heard "oh like Rachel ray" (i don't take that as a complement), "oh so your a cook" (to be fallowed with a look that i am less then a person) or my favorite oh thats what my son or daughter wants be when they grow up i hope they outgrow it' (thanks Ive gotten that kid you not at lest 6 times in the last 2 months).
i feel like when i tell people what i am that they look down on what i do. like oh well she couldn't make it through school so she when to a trade school. poor thing or i just hoped on the food network band waggon. i always jump to defend myself with oh i graduated top of my class never missed a class and oh by the way i do have a degree in pastry and baking. anyone else feel like they are looked down on for "just" doing cakes?
it's the corollary to: "but it's just eggs, sugar, and flour."
like being a teacher "those who can't, teach." -- what an oxymoron.
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no, people don't get it.
the time lapse compression of FoodNetwork TV shows doesn't help either -- watch as Duff and crew or Buddy and Crew turn out 60 cakes in just one hour -- the 12-14+ hours a day for 6 or even 7 days solid that it actually took escapes them.
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funny how much people will pay for one tiny expertly crafted dessert and think it "just happened"
the savory chefs get all the glory on TV - after all they can whip out a full meal in JUST ONE HOUR.
HA for the pastry side of the world. Bake all day, all week, to make one little item.
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and the cake challenges don't help either -- a show piece cake in just 8 hours (using premade cakes, premade flowers........uh, since when did the premade stuff make itself?)
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retort: well while that chef knocked out your meal in just 20 min., I crafted your dessert over the course of x days (which is why my one dessert costs nearly as much as the rest of your meal!)
retort: yes, and I'm dang proud to make the desserts you could only dream of making and will gladly pay me $5/slice to get!
retort: and your POINT?
I find that more and more when people ask me what i do and i tell them im a pastry chef i get a few different responses none are all that kind. Ive heard "oh like Rachel ray" (i don't take that as a complement), "oh so your a cook" (to be fallowed with a look that i am less then a person) or my favorite oh thats what my son or daughter wants be when they grow up i hope they outgrow it' (thanks Ive gotten that kid you not at lest 6 times in the last 2 months).
I usually get the opposite reaction..."that must be a fun job" etc. Yeah, they're probably thinking that I don't work hard (tell that to my back after the last three days of cake decorating) but so what? While they're sitting in their cubicles I have access to good chocolate truffles! 
By the way, if someone said "Like Rachel Ray" to me I think I'd smack them! The thing that annoys me is that everyone asks if I've seen Ace Of Cakes! Uh, yeah, I think I saw that once...
Don't let it bother you. I don't care what ppl think about me really! You shouldn't either. Cooking is an art. Some ppl have it, some don't. Those that don't are envious. Keep on baking and don't worry about what anyone thinks....It's not just a cake!
I get more of the reaction that Costume gets. And if they start to give any attitude I say, "Yeah I went to SCHOOL" for this. And for anyone who calls me a "cake lady" or "baker" I correct them with "I'm a pastry chef." Sometimes I get asked "What's the difference?" My answer = "A $30,000 education."
Response to "my kid wants to be that when he grows up" is:"Wouldn't it be great if we all got to be what we wanted to be when we were kids. I'm lucky I guess"...................
Most folks around here seem to think that is a dream job. I do.
After being hired to oversee a local school's kindergarten working with severly autistic students (mainstreaming them into regular all day classes) my husband (a one time prosecutor) actually said, "Well, maybe some day you can do something important". 
After being hired to oversee a local school's kindergarten working with severly autistic students (mainstreaming them into regular all day classes) my husband (a one time prosecutor) actually said, "Well, maybe some day you can do something important".
Did you hit him... hard? I believe that might be grounds for divorce in some states lol
Actually mine is the opposite too.. People who buy cakes from me have tried to do what I do and can't , that's why they pay me to do it .. 
I was a waitress for 10 years and people treated me as if I were just some uneducated idiot that couldn't be expected to be able to do more than fetch them a salad. That was probably the hardest job I have ever had. I made more money than the people I was serving walked out of there with at least $200 cash in hand every night and when I left work each night I didn't bring home a million things that had to be worked on at home, I left my work at the restaurant !
It was other people that ruined the job for me. I just couldn't deal with them any longer. People treat servers like crap!
So now when I tell people what I do they say " OOHHH that's awesome I have been looking for someone to make my _________ day cake!"
I say "Here's my card be sure to book your date early cause I have very limited availability"
After being hired to oversee a local school's kindergarten working with severly autistic students (mainstreaming them into regular all day classes) my husband (a one time prosecutor) actually said, "Well, maybe some day you can do something important".
Did you hit him... hard? I believe that might be grounds for divorce in some states lol
Naw... just sighed and smiled....what a silly man...He'd been a "Big Wheel" before we met ... sometimes people just have a lot to learn - two years later he told me how ashamed he was that he'd said that and that he now understood what I was doing was more "important" than anything he'd ever done. Unfortunately, people often equate good pay with importance and that's pretty silly, too.
keep on bakin'!
I get the opposite reaction too. I am NOT a pastry chef, but I run a licensed home-based cake business. People around me are envious that I get to "play" for a living. Unless they sit with me for a day, they really have no idea that the biggest part of it all is the business part of it...not as much the cake decorating part.
My parents were really disappointed in my career choice. I am happy and do fairly decently, love my job/career/hobby, have a great family and enjoy life. How many people can say that about their careers? I haven't met many cakers/bakers/chefs that end up on drugs or become alcoholics. They seem to be a bunch of fun loving people that will bend over backwards to help others and bring joy into every occasion in life. No, I am not disappointed.
Hope I don't bore you guys, but have to tell you this.
I'm not a chef or anything, I just do this for fun. I ocassionally take pics of the cakes I do in to work. I get the biggest head after showing them as everyone oohs and ahhs. My head is bloated at the end of the day!
Now, a grown friend of my daughters would love to be a pastry chef, but has gone to school for law. Her mom was embarassed and discouraged her from dropping law.
So Traci signed ME up for cooking classes with her since her own mom wouldn't dare go to classes with her.
How's that for Mothers support? So, it doesn't matter what you choose in life, we are all important and am important part of this earth.
No, I'm not a goody two shoes, I just hate people that criticize people for what they do. But they sure are the ones that end up asking US for favors.
Whew, sorry, I'll get off my soap box now.
I am not a pastry chef, but I do sell cupcakes. I was told by a lady the other day that I "must have a lot of time on my hands", because my cupcakes are so nice. 
My mother looks down on the culinary students at the school where she teaches...which is where I'm planning to go and what I'm planning to major in, once my last little duckling starts all day school. She says it's odd to want to go to school to be a servant and that I should study something useful like computer repair.
My mother looks down on the culinary students at the school where she teaches...which is where I'm planning to go and what I'm planning to major in, once my last little duckling starts all day school. She says it's odd to want to go to school to be a servant and that I should study something useful like computer repair.
"Follow your passion and the money will follow you." That's my motto for starting my cake business. I'm still gainfully employed elsewhere (hey, gotta pay the bills), and still in the very early stages of living my dream, but it will happen.
BTW: Where does your mother usually get her food and desserts from? The Geek Squad at Best Buy? 
Wow Texas Rose, make sure and tell your mom that computer techs are "servants" too!
We all serve in some capacity or another...otherwise we're a big waste of space.
I was a server all through school, (loved it but you're right, hard job and people are hard on you), went to a private business college (ooh fancy), went through several career changes before I found what I love a year ago. Luckily my business background helps me out but if you had told me then that I would be decorating cakes for a living I wouldn't have believed you. (Didn't think I had the talent!)
I get both types of responses but I adore what I do and my family is over the moon about it. I'll die a happy woman. The rest are small minded and can take a hike!
i wish i could afford to be a pastry chef. I love the comments on how we have so much time on our hands because we can whip up desserts. i get that from my JEALOUS cousins all the time. people just want to put you down, it makes them feel good.
You are putting in a hard day's work, doing something that you love AND you get paid to be a part of making each person's special day/event even more special. Sharing the time, love, and talent that goes into each of your creations and making others smile...you just can't ask for much more than that, no matter what anyone says.
Actually mine is the opposite too.. People who buy cakes from me have tried to do what I do and can't , that's why they pay me to do it ..
I was a waitress for 10 years and people treated me as if I were just some uneducated idiot that couldn't be expected to be able to do more than fetch them a salad. That was probably the hardest job I have ever had. I made more money than the people I was serving walked out of there with at least $200 cash in hand every night and when I left work each night I didn't bring home a million things that had to be worked on at home, I left my work at the restaurant !
It was other people that ruined the job for me. I just couldn't deal with them any longer. People treat servers like crap!
So now when I tell people what I do they say " OOHHH that's awesome I have been looking for someone to make my _________ day cake!"
I say "Here's my card be sure to book your date early cause I have very limited availability"
I'm sorry for that. My sister is a waitress and she makes pretty good money. I ALWAYS stress to my kids to ask politely if they need something& say thank you. I always tell them (and some rude people I know)anybody that helps you is in the service business, not servant business, have respect & show some manners.
I think they are just rediculous to look down at any chefs. Some pastry chefs even earn more than someone who graduated in a University. Next time, tell them. It takes money to go to culinary school...a lot of money.
Btw, one of the best pastry chef in existence did not have any formal training and did not go to culinary school. I don't think you have to be educated to get the title, "pastry chef". In fact I know someone who is the head chef of one of the major casinos here in Vegas and he never went to school.
My mother looks down on the culinary students at the school where she teaches...which is where I'm planning to go and what I'm planning to major in, once my last little duckling starts all day school. She says it's odd to want to go to school to be a servant and that I should study something useful like computer repair.
I hope your mother doesn't teach culinary then. My chef instructors are absolutely great and you can tell that they love their jobs and are eager to share their knowledge and skill with us.
I honestly have never ever heard of anyone looking down on culinary students. I sale pastries, chocolates and do gift baskets (seasonally), I get nothing but adoration.
I don't see how anyone could look down on ANYONE for doing honest work. And ALL jobs are service jobs. I don't care if your a farm worker to a CEO of a company, your still serving someone in some capacity.
Rachel Ray makes big bucks, and is probably the only 'pastry chef' of whom they've ever heard.
But Rachel Ray isn't a "pastry chef". She, herself, has said she can't BAKE because she doesn't like to measure anything - she COOKS. It's all "some of this, approx. this amount of that" - nothing is 100% accurate with her. If she makes a meat pie shell, that does not make her (or anyone) a pastry chef. Don't get me wrong ... I love what she does and she's very good at it - I've even used some of her recipes. But that may make her a Chef, but not a Pastry Chef. People/Cake Muggles should learn the difference.
First...Rachel Ray...she does not have the title "CHEF"...she is a cook and will admit it publicly. There is a huge difference between being a cook and having the title CHEF. You don't even get the title of chef after graduating culinary school. That title is pretty much earned. I like to call myself a chef because I've just recently graduated culinary school but I haven't earned the title.
Oh, and on the topic...I always get oooh's and aahhh's and people pretty much admire what I do and I love the attention. I love to hear my daughters tell their friends "my mom's a pastry chef". I just laugh to myself.
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