The iconic tall, white chef’s hat has an interesting history that dates back to the 16th century. Its function is pretty prosaic – stopping the chef’s hair from falling into the food or becoming entangled in equipment – but its symbolism is far from ordinary. A chef’s hat is officially called a toque, from the Arabic word for hat.
In 1800s France, the tall, pleated hat became known as the Toque Blanche, literally white hat. There are differing stories as to who suggested it should be white, but all agree that it was because white symbolises cleanliness and hygiene – obviously two important qualities of a good chef.
The Pleats
The pleats in the hat are not just there to make them look stylish, although that is an element. In the 1800s in France, in the early days of the toque balance, each pleat was said to represent a recipe mastered by the chef, so the more pleats, the more skilled the chef.
Sometimes, the pleats indicated a level of expertise with a single ingredient for example eggs or beef. So, a chef with a hundred pleats may have known a hundred ways to prepare an egg or serve beef. Although not quite the same today, more pleats do denote a higher position in modern kitchens.
The Height
The height of the chef hat is also symbolic. In France in the late 19th century a famed chef, Antonin Careme wore a hat that was 45cm tall, supported with cardboard to keep it upright, to denote his status as head chef. The height denoted not only seniority but expertise. Modern chefs’ hats don’t reach those lofty heights with a range in length of 20cm to 30cm.
Although not as essential an element of indicating seniority in the kitchen these days, they pleated chef’s hat does still denote a chef’s professionalism with only qualified chefs donning them.
Although headwear in contemporary kitchens has become more flexible with chefs wearing a range of items from skullcaps to bandanas and even the odd baseball cap, the Toque Blanche remains the iconic symbol of the professional chef.
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FAQs
It was during the 1800's that the King of Chefs decided that all chefs needed a specific uniform and selected white to represent cleanliness. He had his staff wear hats of various heights, with his being the tallest to show his authority.
What does the 100 folds in a chef's hat mean? ›
In the early days, the number of pleats in the chef's hat represented the number of recipes a chef knew for a given food item, like egg or chicken. Having a hat with 100 pleats meant he knew 100 recipes to prepare with an egg. The same applied to the height of the hat. The taller the toque, the more a chef knew.
What is 100 of these in a chef's hat? ›
Yes, that tall, pleated white hat that chefs wear — technically called a toque — has 100 folds for a reason! According to Reclutant Gourmet, the pleats used to signify a chef's level of experience, like the number of ways he or she knew how to prepare eggs.
What is the chefs hat a fun fact? ›
The pleats in the hat are not just there to make them look stylish, although that is an element. In the 1800s in France, in the early days of the toque balance, each pleat was said to represent a recipe mastered by the chef, so the more pleats, the more skilled the chef.
What is the chef's hat called? ›
The traditional tall, white, pleated chef's hat is officially referred to as a toque, which is the Arabic word for hat.
What does the black chef hat mean? ›
Black symbolises authority, competence, and the transition to higher levels of responsibility. While not as common as white hats, black chef hats are still prevalent in many culinary establishments, representing the skilled chefs who assist the executive chef in running the kitchen smoothly.
What is the symbol of the chef's hat? ›
White is considered the best color for chefs, as it symbolizes the cleanliness of the kitchen. The hat itself can be used to symbolize the prowess of the chef. Traditionally, the chef's hat was meant to have 100 pleats, symbolizing 100 different ways to cook an egg.
Why do chefs wear white? ›
ORIGINS OF THE WHITE CHEFS JACKET
Marie-Antoine chose white as the colour of his chef's uniform to signify cleanliness. This was important in 19th century Paris as it gave customers a positive perception of chefs, giving the restaurant and its chefs a more professional and respectable reputation.
What are the 100 ways to prepare an egg? ›
So the story goes that the 100 folds in a chef's hat represent the 100 ways to cook an egg, but is this true? Well, let's see... there's scrambled, over easy, over medium, over hard, poached, shirred, soft boiled, hard boiled, pickled, baked, sunny side up; in an omelette, quiche, or frittata; etc, etc, etc.
What does the height of a chef's hat mean? ›
Historians often credit Carême for popularising the toque blanche in kitchens: he and many others believed the hats symbolised a chef's level of expertise and experience. The higher the hat, the higher your position.
Chef hats, known as toques, traditionally have 100 pleats, are said to represent the supposed 100 ways you can cook an egg. In some kitchens, they represent the standard of the chef with the most important chefs having the most pleats.
How many folds are there in a chef's hat? ›
A chef's hat is known as the “toque” in French and it usually has exactly 100 folds. According to reports that number was no mistake and it serves a very important purpose.
What does 3 hat chef mean? ›
Here's a breakdown of the Chef Hat system: 12-13 points: a good restaurant. 14-15 points: one hat, worth a stop (similar to one Michelin star) 16-17 points: two hats, worth a detour (similar to two Michelin stars) 18-19 points: three hats, worth a trip (similar to three Michelin stars)
Why do chefs say "all day"? ›
All Day. In chef slang, the expression all day is used to indicate the total number of orders needed. As tickets come in, a chef will shout out the orders followed by all day. If there are three orders of fries on one ticket and four orders of fries on another ticket, there are seven orders of fries all day.
What does the chef cap logo mean? ›
The Chef Hat Cuisine logo is a perfect representation of the culinary world. The blue color symbolizes trust, loyalty, and professionalism, while the fork and spoon represent the essential tools of a chef. The logo also features a chef hat, which is a classic symbol of the culinary industry.
Why do head chefs wear tall hats? ›
These days, a modern chef hat is tall to allow for the circulation of air above the head and also provides an outlet for heat. This type of hat is called a "toque blanche" (French for "white hat"). They are worn because the health department requires restaurant employees to wear a hat or hair restraint of some sort.
Why should a chef wear a hat? ›
Chef hats are essential for cleanliness and safety in a kitchen, not just for fashion. By preventing hair contamination in food, chef hats contribute to upholding hygiene standards and ensuring the safety of the prepared meals.
