We’ve all seen them – most often late at night as we’re leaving the restaurant. You can make out the shapes sitting in an alleyway, the giveaway glow of a cigarette lighting up their faces, chatting about the shift that just ended. You hurry your loved ones past them before they see you, concerned that one of them may come out of the shadows and behave like Gordon Ramsey, who is more smoke and mirrors than anything else, but you still keep an eye out as you pass.
Chefs often get a bad rap, either due to the impression created by reality shows or by actual events where we may have encountered an obtuse chef after changing your menu order from ‘steak poivre’ to a vegan comparative. However, some chefs are coming out squeaky clean, emerging as the new rockstars on the block, often outshining that cute 20-year old waiter with the curly locks.
And let’s not forget the tattoos! These aren’t just any inked designs – they’re badges of honour, as crucial to a chef’s identity as a Michelin star (or at least a solid 4.9 rating on Google). From ornate Japanese koi fish swimming up their forearms to cryptic Latin phrases curling across their collarbones where art meets aggression. Some even go full throttle, tattooing their fingers with knife silhouettes or the word “salt” in case anyone doubts their seasoning skills. They’re not just chefs; they’re walking, talking culinary canvases.
So, what makes these culinary mavericks rockstars? Is it the adrenaline of plating 200 covers a night? The chaotic symphony of sizzling pans, barked orders, and the occasional plate smashing against the wall? Or is it simply that they’ve been standing on their feet for 16 hours and running on nothing but espressos, adrenaline, and the sheer spite of a Google review from 2019 that still haunts them?
The truth be told, the chef’s swagger isn’t entirely unjustified. These are the people who transform a humble beetroot into something resembling modern art with a flick of their wrist, who sweat over reductions for hours just so you can Instagram your dinner and hashtag it #foodporn. They’re the unsung (and often unpaid) poets of plating, turning the simplest of ingredients into dishes that are both edible and existential. Yes, rockstars in their own right, bar the yelling…
But not every chef is a misunderstood genius. Some are genuinely unhinged. These are the ones who won’t just yell when you ask for sauce on the side – they’ll lecture you on the integrity of emulsification while staring down the potato on your plate, making you feel less ordinary then the humble stem of broccoli you’ve just consumed. They’re the culinary equivalent of the lead singer who storms offstage mid-concert because the lighting wasn’t dramatic enough.
Then there’s the softer side of the profession. Occasionally, beneath the tough exterior, you’ll find chefs who are genuinely passionate about nourishing people and sharing their craft. These are the ones who’ll painstakingly decorate your child’s birthday cake or re-fire your overcooked steak without even rolling their eyes. Sure, they might still be grumbling under their breath, but hey, that’s the kitchen equivalent of a standing ovation.
So, are chefs the bad apples of the hospitality industry, or are they the misunderstood rockstars? Perhaps both, or at least a pleasurable balance of the two in a kitchen team. They’re the yin and yang of your dining experience, balancing artistic brilliance with a flair for the dramatic.
The next time you spot one in the alley, tattooed from head to finger and puffing away on their post-shift cigarette, remember: that’s the person who made your steak poivre taste like heaven on a plate. Or maybe they’re just plotting their next tattoo. Either way, be gracious – you may have just past a hall of fame…
Stir Crazy Cooking