Emeril Lagasse in Chef Apparel

In her kitchen apron in the Food Network, Rachael Ray is not only the mainstay host and a popular television personality, she is also the author of many cookbooks and editor - in - chief of her very own lifestyle - devoted magazine. In the year 2007, she has already launched her very successful daytime television program entitled Rachael Ray. It is a joint production of CBS Television and Harpo Productions, which is a production company of Oprah Winfrey; where Rachael Ray showens her unmatched warmth, energy and enthusiasm in cookin and in living the life she enjoys. Her very simple, natural and down-to-earth approach to cooking is aimed at making Americans be interested again in cooking. But Rachael's philosophy of solving everyday problems in a simple, straightforward way goes beyond just cooking and inspires her viewers to enjoy their lives more fully.

Rachel grew up with every member of her family loving to cook and with their best bistro aproons. Her maternal grandmother used to love gardening and she cooked everything that she feeds to her 12-member family. The family of his real father once owned a restuarant that is located in Cape Cod before they moved in new York. And there, Rachael's mom has worked for another restaurant chain and she was the food supervisor. So from an early age Rachael was surrounded by many different culinary styles, and she worked in the restaurant industry in many different roles. When she was still in her early twenties, she has already moved to New York City and got her first job at Macy's Candy Counter and then she later transferred to the Fresh Food Department. And this is where she basically acquired her idea on handling gourmet food.

She then returned to upstate New York after a few years and started managing restaurants and pubs at Lake George's Sagamore resort, and she then moved to Albany and worked as a food buyer and a chef for Cowan & Lobel gourmet market. To be able to stimulate huge sales of her groceries, she started her own series which included the "Thirty Minute Mediterranean Meals" course and has became so popular that she later on became an affiliate of CBS for a weekly "Thirty MInute Meals" series on the network's evening news program. This programs has become so popular and had let her win her first - ever 2 Emmy awards, and which paves the chance for her to write her own cookbook, which eventually sold ten thousand copies just in the Albany area alone.  More to this, they have also had their best kitchen gears which includes the best bistro aprons.

Birkenstck Chef's Shoes - For a Total Comfort in the Kitchen

Several kitchen professionals have been looking for good footwear and chef apparel, designed by these footwear designers, that will be able to stand up from all the extreme activities in kitchen and the greays environment, but still provide a classy and professional look. Strangely enough one of the few companies that has got the balance right is Birkenstock, a 235-year-old German brand that is best known for its orthopaedic thongs and slides.

Birkenstock shoes are well known for their orthopedic support and these chef shoes are no different. The foot - bed follows the idea of giving foot support where it is needed in maximizing healing and comfort that the foot and the toes need to relieve them from pain.

As with all shoes that have arch support it is important to make sure you get the correct fit the first time you purchase.

The chef shoes that is manufactured only by Birkenstock, which is commonly known as Profi Birki, is made out of a very durable polyurethane rubber and a four - millimeter grip. In spite of this, the shoe's innersole features the same arch support as the sandals meaning that chefs get the benefits of an orthopedic shoe in a design that works for the kitchen. These kinds of shoes are also great for medical professionals,such as surgeons, nurses, masseurs and others who are on their feet all day long.

For chefs, who are all on a days work, which could usually take up to 16 hours on their shoes, foot perspiration can be unavoidable and this may also mean that people on this same work field and people in the hospitality industry are much prone to fungal infections.  A working foot would also need to breathe and this is what makes the great design of the shoes unique. The Profi Birki is so good for chefs because this kind of shoes allows the free and proper circulation of air around the skin of the foot, while still giving a strong snug on the foot.

To further ensure that chefs' feet have a hygienic environment for the life of the shoes, Profi Birkis can be regularly washed in temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius. The replaceable innersoles can be taken out of the shoe and should be allowed to air at the end of every shift.

Why Chefs Should Wear a Coat

There are actually a lot of reasons why one should wear a chef jacket or a chef coats. The chef jacket has indeed gone through a tremendous evolution in terms of its functionality, durability and comfort. It is this combination of characteristics that makes it the uniform of choice for professional chefs around the world, not to mention the fact that it looks really cool.

Functionality - One of the main and most important function of the chef coat is to safeguard the chef from the extreme heat produced from the stove or oven,and also from any accidental spills of hot liquids. It is able to perform this function through the help of the double layer of cotton. In addition, aside from this protective function of the chef jacket, it also is able to protect the wearer, or the chef for this matter, from any splashes and stains that are associated in the preparation of food.

You might wonder why persons with such a tendency to get their uniform stained and splattered would wear white. This practice originally started in the mid 1800's by a chef named Chef Marie - Antoine Careme, who started the practice of wearing white and letting her cooks also wear white as it symbolizes cleanliness.

The double breasted style of the Chef Coat, also came into favor at this time (also due to Careme).  Chef jackets are always expected to become stained after cooking because its main function is to protect the chef from stains and spills. Aside from food preparation, the chefs also will need to leave the kitchen to talk with guests, and for this, the chef can easily reverse the jacket to reveal the cleaner side.

Durability - Because the black chef coat is made out of two layers of cotton fabric, the jacket is highly durable. One very important quality of the chef jacket is that it should be able to withstand the frequent extreme activities that are done in the kitchen, and also, it has to be able to stand up despite frequent washings. Not only is the jacket itself highly durable, but the buttons are also constructed of knotted cloth, making them just as durable.

Comfort - One may think that the double breasted jacket is not a very smart thing to wear in areas like the kitchen. But then, the unique construction of the double- breasted jacket shows its distinctive versatility. Cotton is a very breathable and comfortable fabric, which makes it a superior choice in hot environments.

Things You Need to Know About Chef Uniforms

One type of uniform that is very much recognizable is that of the chef. The distinct chefs hat or toque, double breasted jacket and checkered trousers are easily identifiable and with the recent popularity in celebrity TV chefs, the recognizably has been pushed even further. One most distinct way of identifying a chef is by the toque or chefs hat. Even with varying colors or patterns of trousers and jackets, the hat is the single most distinguishing feature.

Although there are really no exact standards as to the uniforms that chefs have to worn, still there are some common articles that make the uniforms constant.

The most widely used colors and textures are a pure white double breasted jacket and a checkered pattern, also known as hounds-tooth, for the trousers. The toque is always white and has always remained this way. One other important article of the uniform is the apron. The apron prevents stains of the chefs uniforms from food splatters or spills. The uniform worn by chefs are not merely something that they wear for show. They also play an essential role in protecting the wearer, and sometimes display the rank of the chefs. The double - breasted jacket is usually made of very thick fabric, which protects the chef from the heat produced by the stove when they cook.The short sleeve chef coats that chefs wear protects them from accidental splatters of hot oil and other liquid

The jacket itself is reversible so that it can quickly be changed over to hide major spills or stains. The buttons that are sewn on the jackets were made of knotted cloth before. This buttons are so robust and are also able to withstand many washing cycles. This also prevents the plastic buttons from melting from the very high heat involved in cooking. The checkered hounds-tooth chefs trousers were useful in hiding minor stains because of their capability of camouflaging minor stains. And just like the jackets, the trousers are also made and produced in a way that they can withstand the heat and flame in cooking. The hats that are worn by these chefs also signifies the rank that the chefs  have. This is signified by the height of the hat itself.

Another interesting feature of the chefs hat is the number of pleats it has. Supposed to denote how many ways a chef can cook an egg, the pleats on the toque usually number one hundred.

Some chefs have personalized their chef coats by adding colors and patterns or changes in design. Traditionally, however, the chefs uniforms traditional white and patterned are widely used and accepted the world over.

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Choosing Great Chef Apparel

Most of the chefs today still prefer the traditional style of chef apparel when they select an attire for their profession.Traditional chef apparel would include checkered pants, a double-breasted jacket, coat and a hat. But of course, because of the profession being able to evolve in a glamorous way, there has also been significant evolution in the chef's sets of apparel. The evolution of the apparel still has not ended there.Still, fashion designers are continuing to work on making the chef's gear more stylish and trendy.

The Essentials of Chef Apparel

Designers aim to bring about a change in the chef uniform without deviating from the main purpose of the outfit. Each part of the chefs' uniform has utility value. For instance, the white colored, double-breasted jacket is not worn just for a neat appearance. It is made of thick cotton fabric, which protects the chef from the immense heat in the kitchen. The buttons are usually just simple - looking, but they are designed in the most effective way to prevent them from burning when cooking.

In the entire outfit, the chef's coat is the most popular part, which is compulsorily worn even in the absence of the other accessories. This gives the chef a professional look and adds a touch of comfort to the attire. This is also usually referred to as the executive coat, and it is sewn with 10 or 12 cloth buttons. The coat incorporates a thermometer pocket, very crucial to this profession.

Chef's pants too have special significance in the chef's apparel.Years before, the chef's pants are made out of checked cloth so that the stains will not become apparent. However, the chefs today would prefer baggy pants or cargo -type pants for ease in moving. These cargo and baggy pants are loose, which allows air to flow freely in and out of the legs, and for ease in movement for the wearer. Checks are still 'in' and stripes too look quite classic.

The short sleeve chef coats remains incomplete without the hat. Before, the chef's hats are considered to indicate the status symbol of chefs. However, the hats of these chefs play a vital role for the chef's taskof cooking good food, and for those who would eat the food they cooked, as well. The chef's hats have a mesh top that enables proper air circulation, which provides comfort and coolness for the chef. Also, this hat serves as a covering that prevents hair from falling on the cooked food.

Chef Uniforms for Veteran Cooks

A Veteran's Take on Cooking

You will take something away from this cooking regardless of your experience level. It seems like I can't leave the house these days without someone stopping and asking me about chef apparel. It's kind of funny, you'd never think that being a cook was that popular, but ever since I won the Rising Star award at the Chef Central National Conference, my mailbox has been absolutely slammed with people wanting to learn more. At times it's difficult to not let all this attention inflate your ego but I try to ignore it and just keep doing what I do.

People ask me how I got my start and how I got to where I am today, so I always refer them to Cooking with Chef Tony. If you have not thumbed through each page of Cooking with Chef Tony, then you need to wait longer before you crack open those pots and pans. In retrospect, getting involved these days is a much less intensive process than it was for me. When I first began, you had to crack and egg, butter the skillet and cook some toast before I could even get your feet wet. Today, all you have to do is hop online and all of the information you could ever dream of about being a chef is available at your finger tips.

While there are some great gourmet chefs today, I feel like the golden age of our craft has subsided. The cadets joining these days are eager beavers, that's for sure but they are searching for all the wrong things in all the wrong places. Here's what they ask me every day.

"-How much should I spend on chef uniforms? -is there a particular book on chef shoes I recommend?

-What can i do to cook with both hands better?

and the list goes on and on."

Take it from a pro who has been around the block many times. Being top chef has nothing to do with how good of a egg splitter you are on the first or second time through it. It is more about really just diving into the material and discovering something new each time around. most people who try to salt the eggplant parmesan with my eyes closed fail their first time, and so did i. my development came to a standstill early on but i had a eureka moment that changed everything for me when i began to avoid cooking for dummies and the sultan's cookbook and instead started focusing on king chef: staying on top which was really the key to my success. i started reading more and more about how to use a frying pan, stopped focusing on the glitz and glamour and instead turned my attention to mashing potatoes with my god given tools and talents.

The improvement was so drastic and sudden that my excessive steamed shrimp cooking time vanished and never returned. it's all about confidence and believing in yourself. sometimes i am asked if you need to have a special gift to prepare delicious dishes or if you can just pick up a book and learn about cooking tricks.  Ialways say that knowledge is only 22% of the uphill battle. the other 78 is just hard work on the part of the client. they really have to give it their all. always keep in mind that there are worse things that can happen than if you oversalt the eggplant. you can discover feces in the food you cooked for example, so keep aiming for the stars and you'll hit the moon on your path toward glory.

How to be a Chef in Style

The same principles that apply to opening a barber shop or candy store apply to opening a clothing store. You have to know what you are selling inside and out and not be afraid to compete against other retailers selling the same clothes at low prices. You must also be required to additionally have a business plan that will act as your detailed conduct that will walk you through your original duo of years in business. If you think through the phrases of your business from start to finish you will be able to come away with one of the finest clothing stores this side of the Potamac.Identify your sub-niche within boutique niche




Boutique business is a niche in chef apparel fashion and clothing industry; however you ought to get into deeper levels. You really have to dig deep when you decide which clothes to sell. I commonly use the mind visualization technique in the clothing store called "let's pretend" where I pretend to be opening a clothing boutique for women. Then I dig deeper: do I want my women to be dressed like 2-bit strumpets or like sophisticated wine drinkers? How about blue jeans and a bra? Maybe something sleazy for tonight's one night stand? Maternity clothing wear? And so forth.



Next, you should really determine if the clothes you choose are in high demand by the world's fashionistas or at least the ones in your store's area. You have to know exactly what your niche is in the chef's clothing field and be able to describe it to your friends and family until they get sick of you. The market is so broad and varied, so the more definite and unambiguous it is, your planning may perhaps be more precise. Your plan for selling chef apron does not have to be set in stone and you have to remember to always stay nimble and upredictable. You want to carry merchandise that basically sells itself so you can relax, sit back, and get as much chef traffic stampeding through your store as you can handle. What are the chances that you will want to branch out into other clothing types other than chef attire like construction wear, burkhas, chef kitchen aprons or Brazillian waxing? Chef shoes are a rarely comfortable and notoriously ambiguous so you may want to figure out an efficient way to get them into your store without stomping over your garden.



Once you have determined that your target audience are children who have cook aspirations you should really target your clothing line to small sizes of chef shoes, caps, and utensils. When it comes to chef clothing you can rest assured that the best ones will be swept off the shelves by ravenous children early on so make sure that you are up to snuff on what's hot in the chef world. Have you seen today's children? They're fast! The move around a lot! Your chef coats should facilitate this quick motion witnessed in today's youth. However, you should be aware that your competition from abroad is aggressively pursuing the chef shoe niche and its unrelenting force may be unstoppable.





You should consider opening your own line of chef apparel clothing. Other chef apparel you might want to cater to is for specific types of chefs that specialize in a particular area of study. Once you have determined the specific field you want to appeal to you can try to add a little flavor, no fun intended, to hte type of clothes that you want to carry. With the increasing popularity of yoga, yoga clothes are very hip at the moment.



Congratulations on reaching the end of this article which should have provided you with enough information to open your own chef apparel store at a momen't notice. For any boutique store it's important to stick to your niche market and have unwavering commitment to customer loyalty. Culinary arts specialists eat that up.



You need to be wwary of your supplier happiness bar and that you can have the product on your shelves in time. One problem with the chef market is that sometimes you might want to stock chef caps and chef shoes in small quantities. Many suppliers are unwilling to supply you such terms. Will stocking the minimum quantities cause cash flow problems or will it be just enough to keep up with chef apparel demand. You never know in this crazy industry of ours. Once you factor in the possibility that your face may be plastered on thousands of apparel items you might want to consider your supply relations with your fabric manufacturers to see if they can deliver cuts in the right sizes. For more information you might want to consider going to a book store and getting a book written about the clothing industry.