Lessons from the Old-School Brigade

Way back when the first job a junior or student chef would know was as a 3rd commis. That was the lowest of the low. From there the hard climb to the top was hard and slow. From 3rd to 2nd commis and on to 1st. Then there was the first real promotion up to chef de partie (CDP) — or chef of the section. This was an important step when you understand that the word chef means chief or leader. So, a chef de partie was the leader of a section. To get to leader of a section you had to have 3 mini promotions within that section or across a variety of sections.