I would like to specialize in culinary translations Thread poster: TextstudioJM (X)
|
|---|
TextstudioJM (X) 
Austria
Local time: 04:30
Italian to German
+ ...
Hi,
are you experienced with translating culinary texts and would be willing to speak about this business?
I am preparing to be a Freelancer and would like to specialize in this area.
Any comments are welcome!
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:30
French to English
What exactly do you mean by culinary translations? And what do you want to know about it?
I do quite a bit. I translate menus for some high-class restaurants in Paris, and for high-class caterers too. I have translated recipes for various agri-food people, the kind of recipe you see on the back of the packet of flour or sugar, but for bakers and chocolatiers using the client's ingredients. A lot of it has come my way via a couple of agencies, other than that I translated a recipe ... See more What exactly do you mean by culinary translations? And what do you want to know about it?
I do quite a bit. I translate menus for some high-class restaurants in Paris, and for high-class caterers too. I have translated recipes for various agri-food people, the kind of recipe you see on the back of the packet of flour or sugar, but for bakers and chocolatiers using the client's ingredients. A lot of it has come my way via a couple of agencies, other than that I translated a recipe book for a friend too (had fun testing the recipes too). I don't know whether telling you that is of any help? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 05:30
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
+ ...
I would like to specialise in translations for top-restaurants, which would let me eat for free, for better inspiration. But alas, I have not been able to find one yet.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:30
French to English
Heinrich, the number of times I've dropped subtle and even downright heavy hints... and I only ever got one invitation - to the kitchen, not the dining room. It did prove to be very instructive. They had someone very famous - and paranoid - in the dining room so I couldn't go in.
| | |
|
|
|
| I personally think there might not be enough work in the culinary | Jul 17, 2013 |
arts alone, although there is some work -- cookbook translations. It might be wise to look into another, additional specialization, as well, such as tourism for example. It may go well with the culinary arts.
| | | | | First requirement... | Jul 17, 2013 |
can you cook? 
| | | | Sheila Wilson
Spain
Local time: 03:30
Member (2007)
English
+ ...
| That would indeed be a plus! | Jul 17, 2013 |
Texte Style wrote:
I only ever got one invitation - to the kitchen, not the dining room. It did prove to be very instructive.
I'd really value that opportunity, more so than getting to eat in the dining room, actually. Unfortunately, I don't expect it will ever be on offer to me now that I live in Fuerteventura (especially as my Spanish isn't top).
My very limited experience has had me quoting reasonable rates for menus, but working unreasonably long hours on the translation. Fun, but not much good for paying the bills. I'm sure I should quote higher rates, particularly when you think how crazy some menu prices are, but I haven't been able to so far.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 04:30
French to English
Sheila Wilson wrote:
My very limited experience has had me quoting reasonable rates for menus, but working unreasonably long hours on the translation. Fun, but not much good for paying the bills. I'm sure I should quote higher rates, particularly when you think how crazy some menu prices are, but I haven't been able to so far.
yes, 1000 words of a menu takes longer than an article in the same subject. However, having done most of this work using a CAT tool I now have a superb TM, and can have up to 70% pretranslated if it's from one of the usuals.
And I got the invitation to the kitchen simply because it was a friend of my former boss who worked in the kitchen...
| | |
|
|
|
TextstudioJM (X)
Austria
Local time: 04:30
Italian to German
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks for all these replies ... | Jul 17, 2013 |
... there seems to be quite a number of culinary translators out there
@Texte style: I'm actually very happy with all this information, I am just testing the waters to see what would expect me in terms of clients, working hours, rates etc.
Did you mention any particular experience/reference in translating cooking related texts when writing to agencies? Or how did they know you know how to do this kind of transla... See more ... there seems to be quite a number of culinary translators out there
@Texte style: I'm actually very happy with all this information, I am just testing the waters to see what would expect me in terms of clients, working hours, rates etc.
Did you mention any particular experience/reference in translating cooking related texts when writing to agencies? Or how did they know you know how to do this kind of translations?
@LilianBNekipelo: Yes, you are right. I know this, but it wouldn't be the only source of income anyway... It's just my favourite area and I started to learn Italian (one of my source languages) by reading cook books... At the moment I'm getting jobs in the financial sector which, to be honest, is not my favourite at all. But there seem to be a lot of these jobs to be done. However, tourism is definitely one of the most promising industries for translators, and I like this sort of texts too. So I wouldn't say no if a tourism agency asked me to do a translating job for them
@Giovanni: YES! But a very important question indeed. I used to be an editor for a cooking magazine, so I know how to cook, how to write recipes, how to do research on the ingredients, how to make a recipe look good on paper and what it needs to be understandable to those who probably can't cook... I think I fulfill all the requirements for being a culinary translator, I just need to know how to get the right jobs...
@Sheila Wilson: May I ask how much your clients are ready to pay in general? Unfortunately, there's a hell of price dumping going on, especially in the US... There must be translators doing a job for almost nothing just to get any job, which actually ruins the whole industry... This is one reason why I don't want to depend on translating but am trying to offer other services too. ▲ Collapse
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » I would like to specialize in culinary translations | Wordfast Pro | Translation Memory Software for Any Platform
Exclusive discount for ProZ.com users!
Save over 13% when purchasing Wordfast Pro through ProZ.com. Wordfast is the world's #1 provider of platform-independent Translation Memory software. Consistently ranked the most user-friendly and highest value
Buy now! » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
Translation news
