Why does a cook need a chef’s uniform?
It’s about the humble chef’s uniform!
Chef’s clothing has a long tradition dating back hundreds of years in the monasteries of medieval Europe. The original chefs did not wear a uniform, as we know it today. When aristocracies were being overthrown, artisans, including those we now call “cooks,” sought refuge in Catholic and Greek Orthodox monasteries run by monks. The kind monks accepted these artists, sculptures and cooks and dressed them in the same dresses they wore, but instead of the pious dark colored dresses that the monks wore, they gave the artisans undyed dresses. In this way, cooks and other craftsmen looked like novice monks or apprentices and could easily disguise themselves as part of the traditional order. Over time, the dresses were modified into a white apron and a full coat. As fashion trends took over the Napoleonic style crossover front, scarves and top hats became part of the chef’s attraction. Around 1700, the basic chef appeal we see today was born.
Something happened in 1986 when a chef prepared a cooking style and changed the world of chef clothing forever.
Gone are the days of old-fashioned fashion and the ill-fitting kitchen beckons with little to no options. For chefs cooking in modern commercial kitchen settings, the presentation and appearance of the chef became increasingly important as a new trend toward open-style kitchens was born. The humble chef was now on display, like actors on a stage, the costumes became important. Not so long ago, chefs were hiding in the back and rarely seen. This shift in thinking has turned chefs into television celebrities. Chefs were now proud to be chefs and wanted to look like chefs. This meant that the humble chef’s uniform was now an important visual tool to promote as part of the overall restaurant design. Colors, cleanliness, and a modern professional look have become not only an important factor, but also a necessary factor in modern commercial kitchen design.
The trend to revive the humble chef’s uniform began in Australia in 1986 when, as the story goes, a young working chef bought an old singing sewing machine and started making and selling some chef’s uniforms with an outside label. Since then, the world of uniform manufacturers has become divided and specialized, and these days you can find companies specializing in chef’s uniforms all over the world. Chef uniform brands are found online, in hospitality equipment stores, or through door-to-door mobile vendors. Generally, chefs aim to choose a uniform that makes them look and feel good. Brands vary in quality and price, so looking for a brand that has a good reputation makes a big difference in longevity. Restaurants sometimes purchase uniforms for their kitchen equipment to ensure a uniformed appearance that reflects the restaurant’s image.
Next time you’re out for dinner, take a look at what the kitchen artisans wear and tell your friends a little about the history of the humble chef’s uniform.