A deeper look into chefs clothing and the options available

Meals have traditionally been a way of celebrating important occasions for many years. Birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas are just three of the special events in the calendar that are often celebrated by a gathering of family and friends for a special meal in a nice restaurant. Additionally, it is just nice to go for a meal with friends or family as a treat.

All of us have our own preferred type of cuisine, and there are a lot to choose from. Each type of cooking has its own specialities and methods of preparing the food, which requires skilled chefs to make the meals into the tasty food we like to eat. Their job can often be a demanding one, and in a busy commercial kitchen, it is not unusual for there to be more than one chef cooking food at any one time. With the amount of ingredients and meals to be prepared, it is essential that they wear protective chefs clothing at all times, as well as the correct garments to ensure they fit in with the restaurants image.

Chefs clothing must be comfortable; that goes without saying! As he or she may have to wear the clothing for long periods of time in often quite warm conditions, it is essential that it is durable, comfortable and allows the chef to work easily and in comfort. A typical chefs jacket can be either short or long sleeved, but it shouldn't be too tight and a lot of them come with press stud fastenings, which allow them to be removed easily and quickly. They are available in a range of colours (although typically black and white, or a mixture of the two) and can be customised to include a logo if desired.

Under the chefs jacket, a shirt of t shirt should be worn; these add extra protection and mean that if the jacket has to be removed the person still has clothing underneath. Again, these can be customised and available as both polo neck t-shirts or a proper shirt - this is at the discretion of the restaurant which is chosen. Like the chefs jacket, it must be lightweight and durable.

Another important part of a chefs clothing are the trousers. A lot of traditional trousers come in black/blue and white check design, but whatever the style, they must be loose fitting and have an elasticated waistband. Unisex trousers are available, as well as pairs specifically for men and women. Over the trousers, it is sensible to wear an apron to catch any spillages and splashes that may occur - those who work behind the scenes tend to wear longer aprons, whereas front of house staff may wear shorter ones. The aprons should be waterproof, and it is possible to get disposable ones if required.

Some restaurants choose to differ their style of chefs clothing somewhat - some may choose to buy their chefs tabards, for example, which are basically longer versions of the chefs t shirt. These come with and without pockets. It is important that whatever style of chefs clothing is chosen, it must be waterproof and contain anti-flammable properties. Accidents in kitchens are sadly only too common, and all appropriate measures must be taken to avoid these where possible.

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