1. Culinary Fundamentals
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Understanding ingredients (proteins, vegetables, grains, fats)
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Basic nutrition and seasonality awareness
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Reading, following, and scaling recipes
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Understanding heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation)
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Salt, fat, acid, heat balance
2. Knife Skills & Prep Techniques
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Knife safety and maintenance
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Classic cuts (brunoise, julienne, batonnet, dice)
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Portioning proteins accurately
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Vegetable prep and efficiency
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Speed with consistency
3. Cooking Methods
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Dry heat: sautéing, grilling, roasting, broiling
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Moist heat: boiling, poaching, steaming, braising
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Combination cooking
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Pan control and temperature management
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Proper use of oils and fats
4. Stocks, Sauces & Soups
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White, brown, vegetable, and fish stocks
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Mother sauces and derivatives
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Emulsified sauces (vinaigrettes, hollandaise basics)
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Reduction and mounting with butter
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Soup fundamentals (clear, puréed, chowder)
5. Proteins
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Meat identification and fabrication basics
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Poultry breakdown
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Fish identification and basic filleting
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Proper cooking temperatures
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Resting, slicing, and plating proteins
6. Vegetables, Grains & Legumes
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Blanching and shocking
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Roasting and glazing vegetables
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Cooking rice, pasta, and grains properly
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Legume soaking and cooking
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Texture and doneness awareness
7. Eggs & Breakfast Fundamentals
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Egg cookery (fried, poached, scrambled, omelets)
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Custard basics (savory applications)
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Breakfast protein preparation
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Timing multiple components
8. Seasoning & Palate Development
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Proper seasoning throughout cooking
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Tasting and adjusting
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Understanding acidity and bitterness
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Building layered flavor
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Recognizing balance and imbalance
9. Mise en Place & Organization
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Workstation setup
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Time management during service
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Prioritization and multitasking
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Clean-as-you-go discipline
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Labeling and storage
10. Food Safety & Sanitation
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Safe food handling and storage
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Cross-contamination prevention
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Temperature control
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HACCP awareness
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Allergen knowledge
11. Plating & Presentation
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Basic plating principles
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Portion consistency
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Sauce application
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Garnishing with intent
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Clean plate standards
12. Professional Kitchen Skills
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Equipment operation and care
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Communication during service
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Following systems and standards
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Receiving and storing deliveries
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Adaptability under pressure
13. Troubleshooting & Quality Control
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Identifying over/undercooking
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Correcting seasoning and texture issues
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Holding food without quality loss
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Recognizing product degradation

