Can I wear a Chefs Coat?

32095 Views 37 Replies 16 Participants Last post by chrislehrer, 2 mo ago

kaneohegirlinaz

Discussion Starter · May 12, 2011

I have a question for the Professionals from a home cook.

If a person has no culinary training, should they be wearing

a chefs coat?

1 - 20 of 38 Posts

leeniek

· #2 · May 12, 2011

I think there will be alot of different opinions on that. By no culinary training do you mean culinary school? I have no formal culinary training... just on the job training and self-teaching and I wear a chef's coat every day. Some restaurants require that every single person in the kitchen regardless of their training and background wear a coat. Right now at the place I am at, not one of us has set foot in a culinary school not even the chef/owner.

I have worked with people who had culinary school and well.. are very ill-equipped to work the line let alone take charge of a kitchen, so for me at the end of the day it depends on the person and how they work as well as what the restaurant requires.

kaneohegirlinaz

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 12, 2011

I have great respect for anyone, regardless of their training background, who goes to work every day in a restaurant, cafeteria, commissary, whatever it may be. I don't think that I could do it.

With that said, I saw this TV program with these people who claimed to be chefs, but you know darn well they're just actors. They're all clad in the white chefs jacket; I'm watching this and they can't cook, who do they think they're fooling?

chefbillyb

· #4 · May 12, 2011

The Coat doesn't make the Chef.............

Reactions: 1

kaneohegirlinaz

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 12, 2011

Very true ChefBillyB!!

I have the cutest apron collection that I really wear and use.

There's something that you don't see too much of either, aprons.

My greatgrandmother wore a fresh, clean pinefore type apron everyday.

leeniek

· #6 · May 12, 2011

So true, Bill.. the coat is only as good as the person wearing it. I have always said the same thing about stoves and other appliances... the appliance in question is only as good as the person operating it...

lpcharming

· #7 · May 13, 2011

In our kitchen as the Executive Chef I wear a black Chef Jacket and all the other kitchen staff wear white ones... Some of them have no experience and others have years. I think the coat is more for the professional appearance then anything else. I can cook a great Prime Rib in shorts and a t-shirt too =)

foodpump

· #8 · May 13, 2011

Wear what you want in the kitchen.

But, you have to know a chef's coat is not a fashion statement.

It is double breasted for a reason.

It has soft, pajama style buttons for a reason

It is white for reason (white reflects heat)

It has fold-back sleeves for a reason

It is (or should be!) cotton for a reason

It has cuffs that cover the back of the hand for reason

It hangs down past the ol' butt cheeks for reason.

In short, the chef's coat is a perfect example of:

"form follows function"

Do yourself a favour and stay away from T.V., I gave up on it over 12 years ago and am wondering why I didn't do it sooner.

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resqdoc

· #9 · May 13, 2011

We all rock cooks shirts.

lpcharming

· #10 · May 13, 2011

With the kiss the cook aprons HA HA

josh1110

· #11 · May 13, 2011

As a dishwasher I even need to wear a chef coat.

panini

· #12 · May 13, 2011

"I have the cutest apron collection that I really wear and use". "" "

kaneohegirlsnbbjudo, I'm going to guess that you are female uh maybe not??

They have nice womens jacket available now. I don't exactly know

what they're called, boobs? My wife says the are much better then the old ones.

LPCharming. I have an apron like that but they spell cook way different.

kaneohegirlinaz

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 13, 2011

@ Pan ... yup, guilty, girley-girl all the way. Just a homey food hobbyist and I find myself lately wearing my apron all day long to keep tidy.

@ FoodPump, I'll take your advise under consideration...

durangojo

· #14 · May 14, 2011

ChefBillyB said:
The Coat doesn't make the Chef.............

what was that famous Obama line about lipstick on a pig?!!!!!

joey

durangojo

· #15 · May 16, 2011

kaneohegirl,

please pardon the tongue in cheek sarcasm in my earlier post...just couldn't help myself! there should be a emoticon for sarcasm. as far as the wearing of a chefs coat, you're a home cook right? if you want to prance around your kitchen in little else than a chefs coat, or you just want to see how it looks and feels on...go for it! whatever makes your cake rise. wearing one is not a rite of passage or neccessarily even earned. most, if not all corporate kitchens require their employees, including dishwashers, to either wear a chef coat or utility shirt, pants and apron. you don't need a degree for sure. personally, i only wear a coat if i am catering a party and am serving and or visible to guests, or if i am in the dining room schmoozing after dinner service. my current kitchen is small, cramped and hotter than a mid summers day in phoenix. even though women's jackets have come a long way with great styles and even greater colors, i still find them restrictive and uncomfortable. of course, if i'm cheffin in someone else's kitchen, the jacket is on, especially if it's an exhibition kitchen. if i were a pastry chef or baker, i would certainly wear one all the time, no matter how hot the kitchen was....chocolate, flour, eggs,....messy stuff that gets in your hair, your eyes, your everywhere....just curious, i don't know what you do for a living or if you are home raising children, but with alll your enthusiasm, why don't you work in a kitchen somewhere 1 or 2 days a week? a small cafe, bistro, catering company...they would probably love to have someone like you...

joey

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Iceman

· #16 · May 16, 2011

LOL. Go out to any given average mall. Count how many people you see wearing sports jerseys. Are any of them athletes? I don't know, maybe. I guess sports pros go to malls. Anyway, if you want to wear a chef's coat, go ahead. What difference would/should it make to anyone else? Does it make you happy? If you're happy, isn't the world a better place? I like wearing any of my chef coats any time I'm working. I feel good wearing my chef's coat. You know what? It makes me a better chef when I'm wearing a nicely fitted coat, because I'm happy. I work so much better in a good mood. Does anyone work better in a bad mood? I do suggest that you shop around though. I've seen the same coats at one place for $16, and at another place for $36.

Iceman

· #17 · May 17, 2011

OK. I forgot to include this last time. And I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin', and this is for me not necessarily anyone else, but no matter what brand or style of chef's pants that I pick to wear, my wife says it makes me look like a big fat clown.

Reactions: 1

gunnar

· #18 · May 17, 2011

cook pants do that, but are so much more comfortable then jeans that i wear my cook pants and old jackets for daily projects around the house and such..at least i used to..not too many projects these days but then i am now getting a divorce. Otherwise to the OP wear a chefs coat it does have it's uses, and they do look cool, I don't care what that guy at mens warehouse told me.

durangojo

· #19 · May 17, 2011

IceMan,

yeah,i agree with your wife, the ninja style chefs pants look ridiculous, but they are way comfortable. i am too vain to wear them, as they do make you look like you belong in the fun house of an amusement park! or the house of mirrors..yikes! i still wear the classic black and white checkered pants...straightlegged, no elastic waistband,bottom cuff and lightweight. i've had my pairs for 19 years and while they still fit, they have grease stains that will never come out and parts are becoming quite frayed. so, i'm in the market for new ones...i think they still make the checks, but they put that stupid elastic band on the waist. will let you know what i find out. gunnar, i am so very sorry that you now have to go through this on top of everything else this year.....in the end its for the best, as you know....in the meantime, press on regardless! with your new job, sounds like you can..

joey

kaneohegirlinaz

Discussion Starter · #20 · May 18, 2011

Thanks Joey! (and again, we loved durango!) My husband told me the same thing, but ya know… I have no more commitments or responsibilities in life, other than me and him and I like it! Plus, the food scene where we live is, well, how can I say, it S**KS! I did consider for a millisecond starting a Private Chef thing here or some kinda delivery service, we have NO delivery, barbaric!! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/eek.gif

Back on topic,

I have been sharing with my husband some of the discussions that I have been having on this forum and he told me today that if ever I started walking around the house with a chefs coat on, he'd have me committed!!

He made a good point, that it's a sign of respect for the person who wears that jacket, and I agree.

He likes my cute aprons.

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