Administration and Finance Focus
 
 

                                                                                                               

EXECUTIVE CHEF BRENT GORMAN EARNS PROCHEF�S CERTIFIED CHEF DE CUISINE DESIGNATION


Executive Chef Brent Gorman recently passed the second of three levels of ProChef skills tests and earned the designation of a Certified Chef de Cuisine. The ProChef program was developed by the Culinary Institute of America to validate skills and provide professional recognition to chefs who meet the requirements.

Chef Gorman was given two months to prepare for four practical cooking skills tests and seven written tests. All of the tests were timed and graded by professors of the Institute.

�It was truly an awakening of the soul and senses to put myself out in the open to be judged by my peers and much greater chefs than I and to see where I stand at this point in my career,� said Gorman. �There were certain tests that were geared just to remind us that �okay� is not good enough. The baking practical was one of those. The items that we were to prepare were not difficult - three kinds of rolls, pie crusts, �clairs, pastry cream and a few other items. However, as simple as this sounds, there are only two ways in baking - the right way and the wrong way. There is no self-interpretation when making a flaky pie crust, only proper techniques.�

After a short break to celebrate, Chef Gorman will be diving head first into preparations for the third and final level of tests. He will have one year to prepare for this level, which will earn him the title of Certified Executive Chef.

�With as much extra preparation time as they allow it is obviously going to be a much more difficult test, but it�s also one that I can�t wait to tackle,� he said.

For more information about UH Dining Services, visit www.uh.edu/dining.