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"Chef" -- Who is? Who ain't?

Stone

By Stone
in Restaurant Life

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Chef/Writer Spencer

Chef/Writer Spencer

Posted
Posted

And then you've got guys like Trotter and Vongrichten. They've paid the dues, proved they've got longevity on their sides and ventured into the other, darker side. I say both are ten times the chef I'll ever be. Would I megaplex myself out? Uh, fuck no. I'd be too paranoid about what was going on in LA to sit still in NYC. I'd turn to hard drugs for sure.

But there are guys like C and JJ who have proven what they're worth, and just happened to be capitalistic. You can't fault a guy for wanting to be wealthy. Yeah, they're big time idol-type chefs. (I know Stone was being Tongue in Cheek)..

inventolux

inventolux

Posted
Posted (edited)

Lets not confuse chefs and leaders.

A chef to my best guess is one who fabricates edible food products and/or posseses the ability to somewhat skillfully transfer heat (cook) items to a desireable edibility.

A leader can be plucked from one environment and placed into another while still possesing the ability to lead reguardless of profession. A jack of all trades, quick learner and great role model.

If one is a chef and a leader well, thats a rare combination, maybe 1 or 5 of these individuals exists to my knowledge.

I dont believe one can ever "pay their dues" that is an exercise in hopelessness.

All I can say about Jet posessing chefs is its different for everyone. Respect for everyones position is the first step in anything professional.

Edited by inventolux (log)

Future Food - our new television show airing 3/30 @ 9pm cst:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/future-food/

Hope you enjoy the show! Homaro Cantu

Chef/Owner of Moto Restaurant

www.motorestaurant.com

tommy

tommy

Posted
Posted
Is Trotter still considered a Chef, or is he more of a marketing guy now?

he flies in a jet. ain't no chef.

no wait. he paid his dues. he's a chef.

boy, this stuff is confusing.

tommy:eats.com
Kim WB

Kim WB

Posted
Posted (edited)
Lets not confuse chefs and leaders.

A chef to my best guess is one who fabricates edible food products and/or posseses the ability to somewhat skillfully transfer heat (cook) items to a desireable edibility.

I don't think you are confusing chefs and leaders..but chefs and COOKS..isnt't the above the description of a cook??

edited to add that I like slkinsey's maestro analogy. but I wish SLkinsey had an easier name, is kinsey ok?

Edited by Kim WB (log)
tommy

tommy

Posted
Posted
A chef must always be a cook though...You'd be surprised how many who claim to be the real deal can't make rice.

so, "chef" is a subset of "cook". and sometimes a "chef" might stop being a "cook", which would then make him not a "chef", and not a "cook" anymore either. that doesn't sound like a good place to be.

tommy:eats.com
Stone

Stone

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
Lets not confuse chefs and leaders.

A chef to my best guess is one who fabricates edible food products and/or posseses the ability to somewhat skillfully transfer heat (cook) items to a desireable edibility.

I don't think you are confusing chefs and leaders..but chefs and COOKS..isnt't the above the description of a cook??

edited to add that I like slkinsey's maestro analogy. but I wish SLkinsey had an easier name, is kinsey ok?

Let's get this straight, it's my maestro analogy -- just read the first post. SLkinsey just gussied it up a bit, that's all. And for the record, I was at a bar once, and Leonard Bernstein was there, and someone came up to him and said, "how ya doing, Maestro." So, in fact, maestros are called "maestro" off-the-clock.

hollywood

hollywood

Posted
Posted

Maybe it should go like this: if you're satisfied at the end of the meal, you can say My compliments to the chef. If not, Who the hell's in that kitchen anyway?

I'm hollywood and I approve this message.

Stone

Stone

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
is a "farmer" a "cook" then?  just when i thought i had this figured out, it got more confusing.  :angry:

Tommy's thinking so hard his kitty isn't twitching any more.

Kim WB

Kim WB

Posted
Posted
A chef must be a cook before becoming a chef.

agreed..but if he just cooks rice, he's a cook. If he leads, teaches and manages a group of people to create a great venue for him to serve the rice as part of an inspired dish, he is a chef. Tommy, do not try to fit this in to your synopsis! :laugh:

Kim WB

Kim WB

Posted
Posted
Lets not confuse chefs and leaders.

A chef to my best guess is one who fabricates edible food products and/or posseses the ability to somewhat skillfully transfer heat (cook) items to a desireable edibility.

I don't think you are confusing chefs and leaders..but chefs and COOKS..isnt't the above the description of a cook??

edited to add that I like slkinsey's maestro analogy. but I wish SLkinsey had an easier name, is kinsey ok?

Let's get this straight, it's my maestro analogy -- just read the first post. SLkinsey just gussied it up a bit, that's all. And for the record, I was at a bar once, and Leonard Bernstein was there, and someone came up to him and said, "how ya doing, Maestro." So, in fact, maestros are called "maestro" off-the-clock.

FINE,becasue it is much easier to credit STONE as opposed to a person named Slkinsey! :laugh:

hollywood

hollywood

Posted
Posted
  If not, Who the hell's in that kitchen anyway?

the farmer? :unsure:

Actually, I was hoping for the farmer's daughter.

I'm hollywood and I approve this message.

Chef/Writer Spencer

Chef/Writer Spencer

Posted
Posted
A chef must always be a cook though...You'd be surprised how many who claim to be the real deal can't make rice.

so, "chef" is a subset of "cook". and sometimes a "chef" might stop being a "cook", which would then make him not a "chef", and not a "cook" anymore either. that doesn't sound like a good place to be.

If the specimen in question can forget how to cook, then he was never a chef.

Stone

Stone

Posted
  • Topic Starter
Posted
A chef must be a cook before becoming a chef.

agreed..but if he just cooks rice, he's a cook. If he leads, teaches and manages a group of people to create a great venue for him to serve the rice as part of an inspired dish, he is a chef. Tommy, do not try to fit this in to your synopsis! :laugh:

What if the venue is Popeye's Fried Chicken & Biscuits, and the rice is going in a lexan container on a steam table?

Wink: "Chef or not a Chef?"

T. Brooks

T. Brooks

Posted
Posted
My rule of thumb is anyone who heads (or had headed including Sous or Chef de Cuisine) a kitchen or is credentialed (e.g. C.E.C. etc).......get addressed as chef by me.

does ACF Junior Chef count?

tommy

tommy

Posted
Posted
My rule of thumb is anyone who heads (or had headed including Sous or Chef de Cuisine) a kitchen or is credentialed (e.g. C.E.C. etc).......get addressed as chef by me.

does ACF Junior Chef count?

i think only if he/she can still cook.

tommy:eats.com
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