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What is a Chef's Coat?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

The chef's coat is a double-breasted white jacket typically made of two layers of thick cotton. It is fairly common in finer restaurants to see all kitchen staff wearing a similar uniform: the chef's coat, black and white checked pants, and a chef hat.

The double layering of the chef's coat helps provides resistance to heat. Buttons may either be made of plastic or cotton. The reason behind the cotton buttons is quite simple. They tend to withstand the frequent washings of the coat better than plastic buttons.

A chef's coat is intended to block the excess heat produced by commercial stoves from reaching chefs.
A chef's coat is intended to block the excess heat produced by commercial stoves from reaching chefs.

Since cooking is a messy business, the double-breasted style of the chef's coat serves an important purpose. It makes the garment reversible so that stains are not visible. The fabric choice of cotton is also quite easily explained. This fabric makes the chef's coat more breathable and thus more comfortable. As well, the white color can be bleached to wash out difficult stains and to keep the chef's coat looking perfectly white.

Chef coats can instill a sense of uniformity in a kitchen.
Chef coats can instill a sense of uniformity in a kitchen.

The chef's coat tradition dates back to the mid-19th century. Marie-Antoine Careme, a popular French chef is credited with developing the current chef’s uniform. The tall hats had already been introduced, but Careme wanted to create a specific uniform to honor the chef. White was chosen for the chef's coat since it is symbolic of cleanliness, something desirable in all kitchens.

A chef's coat is white so that it can be bleached to remove all the cooking stains.
A chef's coat is white so that it can be bleached to remove all the cooking stains.

Later, the French Master Chef, George Auguste Escoffier would also encourage his kitchen staff to wear suits outside of work so as to preserve the dignity of the chef. Escoffier would bring the traditional chef's coat to London managing the restaurants at first the Savoy Hotel and then at the Carlton Hotel.

In more eclectic restaurants chefs may exert their personal style by wearing a decorated chef's coat. Some chef’s coats now have food inspired prints, like decorative chili peppers. In more traditional restaurants, however, especially traditional French restaurants, the white chef’s coat still reigns supreme and is considered part of a dignified uniform, as well as a practical garment for the chef.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon302726

The cotton buttons are mainly used by chefs because if hot liquids are spilled on the coat, it is easier to rip off the coat with cotton buttons than unbuttoning regular buttons.

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    • A chef's coat is intended to block the excess heat produced by commercial stoves from reaching chefs.
      By: Kurhan
      A chef's coat is intended to block the excess heat produced by commercial stoves from reaching chefs.
    • Chef coats can instill a sense of uniformity in a kitchen.
      By: CandyBox Images
      Chef coats can instill a sense of uniformity in a kitchen.
    • A chef's coat is white so that it can be bleached to remove all the cooking stains.
      By: design56
      A chef's coat is white so that it can be bleached to remove all the cooking stains.
    • A chef's coat was traditionally worn with a "toque", or a chef's hat.
      By: dp3010
      A chef's coat was traditionally worn with a "toque", or a chef's hat.