Is there really any difference between a Cook and a Chef.?
Nowadays, pubs have 'Chefs' who produce enjoyable meals from commercially prepared dishes; which are then 'cooked in the kitchen'. Even top-class London hotels are supplied with 'boil in the bag' exotic items. Furthermore T.V. presents us with Cooks and Chefs who are as good as each other.
Perhaps we should use an Australian term of affection and refer to both Chefs and Cooks as.. 'Chookies'.!!
There is no difference. Chef is just a shortened version of the French ... chef de cuisine....head of the kitchen. In other words the chief cook .
In my house that means chief cook and bottle washer !
Which is Moi !
But in places like the Ritz or any of these high faluting restaurants ....you would hardly say ..."my compliments to the cook" ..it would have to be "Chef"...or you would have raised eyebrows everywhere !!
My tongue is firmly in my cheek of course.
Hi Viv & Ron - Chattanooga checking in with her two cents worth here:)
While they are technically the same - typically when someone is called a chef - it means they have been trained - have graduated from a culinary school. A cook can be a chef or just someone who has life experience - typically speaking that is:)
BBWCHATT..........You've proved one thing for certain..........There aint any Chefs in our Chateau.! However,we are still going to pretend that we have a capable cook in the kitchen of our country cottage.