[Filthy Habitz]

Do you think hats should be mandatory?
How long does the hair have to be?
Do you like those hats?
Do you think a ball cap is fine?
Do you think a bandana is okay?
If hats are mandatory should the chef have to wear one as well?

I just want to know what people think. I personally hate wearing hats of any kind while sweating. I have a shaved head and wear a bandana if I start to sweat.

Just interested to see.

[epicous]

I prefer a narrowed hat, limited in lenght, and not white. I have not found the ideal hat.

I do not visualize large hats like this:

[Ishbel]

Eating at a restaurant and looking into the kitchen to see staff wearing baseball caps?

I'd leave.

[ED BUCHANAN]

Originally Posted by Filthy Habitz

Do you think hats should be mandatory?
How long does the hair have to be?
Do you like those hats?
Do you think a ball cap is fine?
Do you think a bandana is okay?
If hats are mandatory should the chef have to wear one as well?

I just want to know what people think. I personally hate wearing hats of any kind while sweating. I have a shaved head and wear a bandana if I start to sweat.

Just interested to see.

I don't know what state you are in ,or what food facility but in most place hair covering is mandatory by health code law.

[KYHeirloomer]

but in most place hair covering is mandatory by health code law

If so, Ed, it's a law observed more in the breech than in the practice.

I never see head coverings anymore---not even nets, let alone hats. At processing houses, yes. But not at restaurants.

[ED BUCHANAN]

Any facility I have worked in in Florida everyone wore baseball caps or chefs hats. I know in NY there is a law on the books that the use of hairspray was acceptable(don't know if it still applies) Thats the one thing health dept. here is strict on, other things they are lax.

[petalsandcoco]

I have fairly long hair, so up it is.....

All kitchens in Montreal MUST at all times have "something" to cover hair.

Hygiene rules differ from one kitchen to the next but they are mostly the same. I have even seen beards covered in High end kitchens.

Petals

[Just Jim]

Originally Posted by Ishbel

Eating at a restaurant and looking into the kitchen to see staff wearing baseball caps?

I'd leave.

Interesting.
I have no problem with ballcaps.
If the food and service is good I don't care if the kitchen crew is wearing mining helmets.
Paper Mickey-dee's style hats would turn me off though.

Over the years I've seen everything from toques to skullcaps, wraps, hairnets, ballcaps, tall paper chef hats.

I think a cook should wear something comfortable and practical.
It's been rare to see a Chef wear a hat unless he is chained to the line.
If he walks in and works a small project, he is usually uncovered.

[Blueicus]

I agree, I don't see the problem with wearing baseball hats... I prefer to wear a simple black skullcap if I am required to wear one, though I do like the camo prints too and I've worn baseball caps on occasion (I just don't like the ridge though, it blocks my vision and I tend to smack it against various surfaces when I'm working.) Oh, and I hate the classic chef toque... it's horribly impractical.

The thing I've noticed is that the higher end the restaurant generally the less headgear there is... at least that's from personal experience.

[Ishbel]

Then call me old fashioned, call me British.... it's the belief that the same baseball cap would be worn outside the restaurant, and just not removed before coooking

[ED BUCHANAN]

Originally Posted by Ishbel

Then call me old fashioned, call me British.... it's the belief that the same baseball cap would be worn outside the restaurant, and just not removed before coooking

Chef magazine used to give out White baseball caps with CHEF spelled out on the front???

[Filthy Habitz]

Well the small little resort I work at on an island. There really isn't alot of health inspectors around. They come twice a year and the other 2 resturants will call and let you know before they stop by. Never once have I been told to wear a hat by them. Mainly becuz I have less then a 1/16th of an inch of hair.

I think most hair in food comes from servers and not cooks. If you have hair then yes cover it up. If you have no hair all you need to worry about it sweat.

I won't work in a kitchen that tells me I have to wear some stupid pepper hat or anything I don't want to.

[Pete]

Ishbel, you in the US you might be surprised at how many places you might have to leave if you stayed true to that comment. Baseball hats are becoming more and more the thing while toques are not a prevelant as they used to be.

I am a firm believer of wearing hats in the kitchen, not head bands, not bandanas, but hats. Personally I prefer baseball caps to toques but I wear what the "powers that be" want me and my staff to wear.

[Filthy Habitz]

On the westcoast Canada cooks are in such high demand you can basically tell them you will not wear a hat. Along with how much you expect to be paid and the hours your willing to work. If they don't wanna go for that 20 other places down the block will.

[DC Sunshine]

When I worked in the kitchen as a commis, hats were mandatory. Chef had a paper toque, everyone else had to wear the short paper ones. Long hair? hair up and back, hat on.

I got into sooo much trouble...one day early on in my kitchen stint, the kitchen ran out of the short ones. As I have a mass of hair, I thought I better wear something at least, and not thinking, grabbed a toque (I didn't realise the importance of it at the time).

Oh dear. I copped it "What ARE you doing wearing that?!?!?!" So, never again. Geez that was a long shift...

Some tv programs I've see out of Asia in the larger restaurants often have all the food prep. staff wearing paper face masks....is that common else where?