If you have the ability and the responsibility, you should be able to call yourself whatever you want, whether it be Chef or Grand Wizard Of All Things Culinary.
I always say I'm a cook by trade, a chef by responsiblity.
You can call me %$#@! as long as you do it respectfully.
Likewise, calling me chef while spitting venom does nothing for me.
I do see the difference between a chef and a certified chef, and I see how we've blurred the lines.
A high percentage of culinary graduates call themselves chefs.
I've even had an applicant with no culinary experience say they "chef at home", so the term is definitely losing some of it's original meaning.
Bottom line: the chef is the chief.
If you're the chief of your kitchen, you are the chef.
Just my 2 cents.
Spend it as you wish.
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You should have been here when the shiitake hit the flan! |