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by Anonymous on April 23rd, 2007
The term chef has often been misused, it really means that you are the Head of a kitchen team.
After training (fresh from school when you are still way too slow to work in a busy restaurant and havn't really got a clue, but think you have) you are a Commis, same as the guy or woman who started training straight in a restaurant. Then if you are good, and have learned to clean every aspect of the kitchen over and over again, do everybody elses shity job with a smile, work extra hours, extra days, show some ability you become Chef de Partie get your own section perhaps, but not much more money than the commis. After that you might become Sous Chef and then eventually Head Chef, if you havn't packed your job in by then, because of the long hours, the bullying, the shouting, the heat etc.
So when you become the Chef, the leader of a team of kitchen workers, you have climbed a ladder with a strict hirachy in which there is only one boss (the Chief aka Chef) whose word is the gospel. No discussions, no arguing, no knowing better. The cooks cook what and how the Chef wants them to cook.
by Cowboy-Matter of Fact on April 29th, 2007
About $25-$50 a plate for the same food.
by Anonymous on April 23rd, 2007
Level of qualification.
Chef's have done an apprenticeship learning all aspects of cooking, and then have many years of experience on top of that.
Cooks may cook very well, but generally do not have a bit of paper to back them up.
by Bunter on April 23rd, 2007
the difference between a meal and a cuisine...
by John. on April 16th, 2007
I've always thought about it like this:
A Chef is a professional, who has spent years training to get to where theyre at.
A Cook is someone who cooks something. The guy at the local take away can call himself a cook, but he definately can't call himself a chef.
I suppose Chef>Cook *shrug*
by PokkiTokki on April 27th, 2008
The amount on the pay cheque.
by Queenie on February 23rd, 2009
formal education
by Oddball on February 16th, 2009
People try to add all kind of stipulations to distinguish between a Chef and a cook, but when you boil it down to the truth, a Chef is a professional cook and nothing more.
by Chef.Summer on February 15th, 2009
about 38,000 dollars is what I pay to go to a culinary college to learn to become a proffesional chef and not a cook
by rudirs on April 27th, 2008
there are diffrent thoughts about it a chef always is higher ranking/trained but diffrent people thing diffrent things i think a chef is really good at cooking the can cook most things if they want to they know many recipees but dont need one for alot of things they know what flavorings clash and wich ones go good together they know alot of spices and usaully have been to culinary school or work in a good restaraunt a cook is someone who knows how to cook
by Patti jo on April 29th, 2007
A Chef goes to schools and has been certified and cooks arent
by isbeergood on April 16th, 2007
A cook can be anyone who learns a restaurants menu and how to cook the foods on it. A chef actually has to take AT LEAST 2 years of training in various cooking methods and styles.Even after 2 years you are only considered a "sous chef" A chef can be just a cook - but just a cook isn't a chef. Someone says they are a chef - ask them where they trained and for how long.some chefs train for many many years.You only need a few minutes training to flip burgers at McD's
by Vintage... on March 18th, 2009
Fry vs. "sautee"
Pound vs "tenderize"
Soak vs "marinate"
by Spaniel on February 23rd, 2009
The same as the difference between a writer of computer manuals and a poet.
by The Anonymous Witch on August 17th, 2009
about 100.00 bucks an hour
by The Wise One on August 17th, 2009
A Chef knows the right way -the wrong way and the way you have to do it for the price point or food cost you are trying to acheve.
by TERRYTUKER on August 14th, 2009
sauce R.I.P.
by anddeb on February 15th, 2009
A chef has a degree and makes great money and a cook has no degree and makes wage.
by ALM4 on February 15th, 2009
chef is a professional graudate and a cook is just any person but doesnt have a degree..
by saif saif on April 29th, 2007
real cook have taste,chef can make menu food coste control
by say_what on October 31st, 2010
a chef creates and makes new meals while a cook just cooks it and severs the meal
by js123js123@msn.com on July 14th, 2010
chefs specialize in the art of cooking. display, spices to culture, the have their own signature dishes, they just don't mix up food they mix the ingredients in a specific way. School is not a factor other than you learned a few dishes to cook, both cooks and chefs have to comply with health regulations. The owner of a restaurant often lets the Chef use his creativity to produce profits and popularity, where as a cook just follows a menu . Most cooks don't even taste their own food or even look at it for hair but a Chef is very cautious about his plate before sending it out because it is his name on the line...
by js123js123@msn.com on July 14th, 2010
cooks cook whats on the menu and Chefs create and display quality. School is not a requirement just proof that you are good!
by NANU on February 16th, 2009
i am 100% agree with your answer.
thankyou
by justmesuzanne on February 23rd, 2009
A cook (such as myself) can turn out a great meal in my limited kitchen. A chef would run away screaming (See my answer to the question about what Gordon Ramsey would do if he came to your house! LOL!)
by ann mcintyre on August 14th, 2009
Nothing. I have been a chef/cook most of my life in french and English cooking and any top good chef normally calls himself a cook.annmac
by Buck Swazy on August 14th, 2009
A cook works at mickie d's a chef at quiznos
by CaptainHarley adores his life penguin on March 18th, 2009
A cook tends to throw stuff together. A chef "blends" it. : )
by Squirrel Face on March 18th, 2009
About $20 an hour.
by noraken2 on March 1st, 2009
Emeril, Bobby Flay, Mario Batlia and Cat Cora are chefs. Rachel Ray and Paula Deen are cooks. Sandra Lee is not even a cook.
by neorage on March 18th, 2009
A big hat.
by firoz554 on June 3rd, 2010
i think cook is any person who just knows cooking, but chef is the one who is expert in cooking of different things/ dishes etc...
Why are chef hats so tall?
by Answerbag Staff on February 8th, 2010
| 1 person likes this
How Much Does It Cost to Go to the California School of Culinary Arts?
by Answerbag Staff on July 30th, 2009
| 1 person likes this
Why are male chefs still more popular than women when women have more practice cooking?
by Masculinist on October 25th, 2008
| 4 people like this
Why do chefs wear white? Wouldn't it be more practical to wear something that is less likely to stain?
by Mastodon on November 18th, 2008
| 7 people like this
What is the meaning of the chef's hat?
by Anonymous on October 4th, 2008
| 2 people like this
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Comments
French - chef = chief
by Brian I on April 23rd, 2007
Bravo!
by ADLICH on April 23rd, 2007
Wonderful, clear explanation!
by Chicago Lady on July 14th, 2010