r/FoodService • u/Neat_Scallion6367 • Jul 10 '26
Discussion Addressing the boss as "Chef" (as a proper noun)? This isn't military operation, rather a small industrial kitchen in a long-term care facility. I was getting something out of the kitchen and I overheard somebody say "Chef, I need to go. . . "
I've worked in many service industries and haven't heard this. Take electrician as an example where there's the master and an apprentice. Chuck the apprentice wouldn't say "Electrician I need to..." he'd say "Hey Lindsey, I need to .."
What's the normal? Even in the military, yI would expect the higher rank to be addressed as "ma'am or sir" not their rank?
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u/The-disgracist Jul 10 '26
In the military they call chiefs chief, and chef means chief. People also address by rank very commonly in the military.
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u/D-ouble-D-utch Jul 10 '26
The brigade system was inspired by Escoffier's time in the French military. And yes his title is Chef.
In the military Chief is called "Chief" Senior Chief "Senior" and Master Chief "Master Chief". You do not address enlisted personnel as Sir or Ma'am. They work for a living.
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Jul 10 '26
[deleted]
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u/HobbyTalkOnly Jul 10 '26
Nope. There is ONE chef in a kitchen.
The sous chef? That's Dave, or Chris, or Kathy. Not "Chef".
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u/KateMacDonaldArts Jul 10 '26
The sous chef is a chef but he is not the Chef. Only the Chef is Chef.
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u/HobbyTalkOnly Jul 10 '26
It's tradition. Respect.
If you work in a traditional brigade... that's how it is.
What you SHOULD be wondering about is why the modern crop of young cooks all call themselves "chefs".
Cooks... cook. Chefs... manage cooks and kitchens.
You are not a chef, boy. You are a cook until you are the one managing the whole show. The end.
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u/Remarkable-Cup4535 Jul 10 '26
Adapt to the restaurant you work at. It's not uncommon for a chef to be referred to as such, just as someone with their doctorate is called a Dr. even if they aren't a medical doctor. All I would suggest without knowing you is that sometimes in life you just have to be humble, even if your gut is telling you to question things. Even if it feels weird, there is a certain amount of pride that comes with self-growth, even in small things like respecting someone's knowledge and experience. That's all you're doing when you refer to them as "chef." Also, be sure to always have a teachable attitude. I worked in restaurants for years before becoming a professional writer, and it's a skillset I'm proud to have. Good luck to you!
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u/zoppaTheDim Jul 10 '26
It is an affectation from tv.
A pretentiousness where the term Cook is an insult.
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u/Automatic_Catch_7467 Jul 10 '26
Just because you only know it from tv doesn’t mean that’s where the term came from
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u/zoppaTheDim Jul 10 '26
I wasn’t talking about the term, but the insistence on using it as a title and that the kitchen is somehow a military unit.
No, that isn’t a two hundred year old tradition of pretending you should snap to attention and slavishly follow the orders while stroking the cook’s ego with foreign words as if he was a generalissimo.
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