There Can Be Only One Chef

Chef vs. Cook

Every Chef can cook. But not every cook is a Chef.

Many English-speaking people use the word CHEF to describe almost anyone wearing (in the best case) a white jacket in a kitchen. But did you know that, in this case, the word has almost completely lost its original meaning?

Where Does the Word “Chef” Come From?

The word Chef comes from the French language and translates as Chief in English, or simply Boss in the USA. Hence, in French, the cook in charge of the kitchen and its cooks is called the Chef de Cuisine. In English it is Chief of the Kitchen or, in the USA, the Executive Chef. Everything is, of course, executive over there...

So, when somebody is honourably called Chef, Chief, or Boss, it is a title given to a person who is in charge — whether that title was officially awarded or simply acquired in one way or another.

It can be the Boss of the Mob (Mafia, in the USA), the chef de station de brigade de pompiers meaning the chief of a fire brigade, or the Chief Officer of the famous British Heinz Beanz company. And yes: Beanz, with a “z”.

For some reason, certain people in the USA must at some point have thought: Why say Chef de Cuisine? Too complicated. Too French.

And perhaps this happened during one of those periods when the USA and France, as we would say in German, “nicht gut zusammen Suppe essen” — were not exactly sharing the same soup bowl.

So, de Cuisine disappeared, and the person in charge of the kitchen simply became the Chef.

Then, as the years passed, something rather amusing happened. Guess what?:

Suddenly everybody who even remotely resembled a Chef became one.

The junior cook became a Chef.

The sweet pastry girl became a Chef.

And even the pot washer became a Chef.

Eventually, anyone standing near a stove or going thru the kitchen’s door of hell, had a fair chance of being called Chef.

In French, however, the junior cook still has his proper name: Commis de Cuisine.

So, a Chef de Cuisine, or in German “Küchenchef”, is much more than someone who cooks.

A Chef is the Chief of the Kitchen:

No matter whether it is a small restaurant, a luxury resort, McDonald’s, or a military base, every kitchen has one person who carries the overall responsibility.

That person is the Chef.

And there can only be one!

And so it is the same here at Restaurant Casa Pascal Fine Dining in Pattaya, Thailand.

Just as a ship has one Captain and an orchestra has one Conductor, a kitchen has only one Chef.

In every kitchen, business enterprise, or community, there may be many talented professionals...

But there is only one Chef leading them.

Many people may cook.

Many may cook extremely well.

But the person who carries the final responsibility, gives the direction, makes the decisions — and gets blamed when everything goes wrong — is the Chef.

And there can only be one to be blamed at….

So, is a Chef the God of the kitchen?

No!

Ah, well… somehow yes because:

A Chef is a leader, a teacher, a problem solver ...

A Chef is a manager, an accountant, a controller...

A Chef is inspiring, he is a mentor and historian...

A Chef is an artist, he is creative...

A Chef is a business man and diplomat...

A Chef is responsible for muti-million dollar operations...

A Chef manages upwards of a hundred staff or more – my last F&B gig I had over 200 staff...

A Chef designs and constructs kitchens & restaurants....

A Chef designs rooms, banquets, tables and artworks…

A Chef organizes a supply chain...

A Chef grows the vegetables, catches the fish, and bakes the bread…

A Chef inspires others to be the best…

A Chef is an expert marketer and knowledgeable of current trends and how to achieve the most with little…

A Chef coordinates multi departments and outside vendors to come together to reach common goals…

A Chef communicates his ideas through presentations and then action…

A Chef communicates what he does to the public in poetry and verse in a line or two (menu)…

A Chef is a strict quality control expert…

A Chef is a purchasing and negotiation expert…

A Chef is a nutritionist, a food & health scientist and emergency doctor

A Chef is a psychologist, a motivator, a councilor and welfare man

A Chef is a craftsman and when necessary a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber

Above all, a true chef must combine creativity with discipline, authority with humanity, consistency with innovation, and passion with absolute responsibility.

A Chef basically wears many hats and has to do them well; otherwise he’s out the door.............