Chef And Serving Uniforms

Chefs, just like doctors, are known by tradition to always dress in white. Before, they were just confined to the kitchens but now, they’re regularly seen on TV with some of them having their own shows while the others are featured in the celebrity chefs series. These white uniforms make them look professional and clean while they work, never mind if they’re prone to getting stained. The evolving fashion trends, however, have somehow influenced the standard white chef uniforms resulting in a variety of styles and designs and the inclusion of the black jacket.

The standard chef uniforms include the jacket, trousers, apron, hat and necktie. They date back to the middle 1800s courtesy of chef Marie-Antoine Careme who redesigned the uniforms and chose white as a more appropriate color because it denoted cleanliness. He also decided to have different sizes for the hats to distinguish the chef’s ranks. The chef of kings then, Escoffier, also considered cleanliness as very important for it depicted professionalism.

Of course, the chef’s jacket is distinguished by its double-breasted design. The design is not just for aesthetic purposes but for a real reason. The double-breasted jacket can actually be reversed to hide stains during food preparation and cooking while its thick cotton cloth can protect the chef from the heat of the stove and oven as well as from the splattering of hot liquids. The knotted cloth buttons are more preferred because they can withstand frequent washing and contact with hot pans.

The trousers originally had a checked black and white pattern similar to those of the hound’s tooth. The design was for the purpose of not making the stains very visible. Today, many executive chefs wear black pants made from cotton or a mix of polyester and cotton. Cargo chef pants have also been introduced and are getting well known.

The chef’s hat or “toque blanche” is the most popular uniform which originated in the 16th century. The differing sizes usually refer to the rank of cooks in the kitchen. Those wearing tall hats are executive or sous chefs while shorter hats are worn by the line cooks. The 100 folds of the hat are said to depict the various ways a chef can cook an egg. Some fashionable chefs today wear different non-traditional hats including the skull caps and berets.

The apron is a popular uniform even in the home. For chefs, however, the aprons they use are normally white and are made from cotton or a mix of cotton and another material. Although the traditional full bib with front pockets design remains, many chefs prefer to wear the half type or those that fall from the waist. Current designs include the half bistro, square waist, tapered and the four-way apron. Some chefs also like those with slits on the side to allow them to access their pant pockets.

Neckties or neckerchiefs are worn these days mainly for accent. They can either be white or black in color. But did you know that these neckties were originally meant to absorb the sweat from the chef’s face and neck while working in the hot kitchens of the olden days?

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