The best place in the world to be a chef is?

Many hotels in foreign countries, islands and cruiselines are advertising for Chefs on the internet. I saw some ads from Greek islands. My co-worker says Bermuda is a great place to be a chef. Ireland looks like an interesting place to be a chef. Whats your opinion on great places to be a chef, or places you'd best forget about?

[shahar]

Earth seems like a nice place. Lots of diversity, non of that uniform conformity most old civilizations reach on other planets yet. And even some wild food still around!

[capechef]

I don't no if I could name just one place as the best place on earth to be a Chef...But it would have to be close to the sea...and have the right temperate zones for farmers to flouresh.I am lucky to live in the North east..we have four distinct seasons,plenty of offers from the sea and great produce.I love the change of seasons,it's very inspiring to me.alas..it would need to be a place were people love there food.
cc

[palmier]

For many years I have heard that the Big Apple is the center of the culinary universe. Ive been there a few times, and I could find many reasons to agree. Lately I have taken notice of several world class pastry chefs centered in Chicago. Does anyone agree with this observation of mine?

Ha ha! Shahar S. Lubin, Now Babylon wasn't too conforming! I'm not a conformist, so maybe San Fransisco's the place for me. All those earth tremors must keep things exciting, and the citizens open-minded!

[Nicko]

Ahh for me it is Greece, especially the islands. The food is great, the people are wonderfull, and the culinary scene is really happening there. On my last visit to Santorinni I was blown away by the food. I mean it was on par with what is happening in NY, Chicago, etc.

Very cool.

[Papa]

Dear Friends:

I was once in Saudi Arabia as a guest of a member of the Saudi Royal Family.

I was suffering from the high heat and the complete lack of wine from dinner menus. My gracious host invited me for a night horseback ride in the desert. We were a small group of Prince's guests, which included a British Chef who was making a career working at one of this country's hotels. I asked him if the monetary rewards were the motivation for him to seek a career in Saudi Arabia. He pointed to the incredible beauty of the starry sky and the sandy slopes that were being washed by the moon light and he responded that this was the reason why he was there.

What I am trying to say here is that the place has nothing to do with it. The most beautiful country with the most hospitable environment can become the most challenging place for any expatriate. The best place to be a Chef or anything else for that matter is where your heart is.

[Pooh]

Dear papa,

Think you should start writing your memoirs. I would be the first in line for a copy and your authograph!

[Papa]

Thank you Pooh!

[Pooh]

Your welcome, papa.

[momoreg]

Something tells me there are a lot more stories in Papa's memoirs!

The best place to be a chef is anywhere you are at to express yourself more then just words can say

not sure where the best place is but i spent 3 years on the red sea in eilat , pretty good if you can adapt , good weather , diving, cheap beer , bikini clad babes were pluses 6 day weeks , passover and rabbis were minuses.
sacramento for a year was ok , but the place i worked was **** + the skilled workers didn't exist

"The best place to be is here"
"The best time to be here is now"
(paddy pallin)

While making the most of where you are why not see if those dreams can become reality in the future. We have been lucky to be able to work into most of our dream jobs. Trouble is it's getting harder to dream now.

Here are a few places to work in the changing seasons as you travel in Oz:

June - September: Tropical north of Australia (our winter is the dry warm months, summer is steam oven time). Cairns or Darwin for the city orientated, Kununnurra or Kakadu for the resorts where lots of Advneture stuff happens in the outback. A tropical island resort on the Great Barrier reef for the water lovers. Dive to your hearts content, lay on the beach or fish for the "Big one".

October - November: Canberra is the spring and national capitol. Plesant city with lots of interesting activities in the nearby mountains, flower festivals, etc.

December - Janurary: Tasmania, where the mountains are wild and the pace of life is less rushed. Nice sea kayaking, sailing, hiking, or just touring around. Feed the Penguins, swim with the seals, perhaps feed the sharks ! Hobart is the hub of life of the island.

Feburary - March: Hop over to New Zealand's south island and work around Wanaka or Queenstown, It is peak time but the place is and adventurers dream. Climb mountains, hike, rafting, hunt, bungy jump if you suffer from lack of blood to the brain. Really pretty place NZ !

April - May: Autumn time is plesant in the south east or west of the continent, a good time to explore one of the big cities like Sydney or Perth.

Being an ex-patriot I definately have found the best place in the world to be a chef!! Cape Town, South Africa is the new hot spot in the world with world class ingredients, wine farms and as the gateway to Africa a huge diversity in cultures and cooking styles. Throw in Table Mountain(one of the seven wonders of the world)blues seas and one of the worlds most beautiful (and smallest) plant kingdoms and you have heaven on earth. Look out for us in the near future..Barak Hirschowitz, Executive Chef, The Bay Hotel WWW.thebay.co.za President of the South African Chefs Association Western Cape Chapter(Cape Town) and ex-new yorker big ex!!!