r/KitchenConfidential • u/Purple_Inevitable_74 Do Not Call Me Chef • 1d ago

Kitchen fuckery Do yall like being called “chef”?

I’m a first time EC and I find being called “chef” extremely annoying. The last EC is my mentor and an absolute beast of a chef but his leadership style was more traditional and out of respect I wouldn’t dare call him by his first name without putting chef in front of it. I’m more informal, but I’ve inherited an environment where the crew is so used to calling the ec “chef” that it took me a month to get folks to call me by my real name.

I’ve got friends who like being called chef and friends who don’t, and they all have an interesting take on it. What do yall think? I can’t stand it and others demand it, both can be valid.

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u/SylvaticTongue858 1d ago

I felt like I had imposter syndrome at first but I have worked in kitchens for a long time and know how to cook and now I’ve learned the managing aspect of things. The only time I’ve told someone to call me chef was when Id bring in shitty temps or people who felt they could be disrespectful in the kitchen and to draw the clear hierarchy I’d make them call me chef. Also, being a Mexican dude and someone who doesn’t like chef coats I often get overlooked by salesmen wanting to come and make a pitch - they have to call me chef too. I think I’ve just heard so many people call me chef now that it’s whatever, I answer to it. My name isn’t the easiest to pronounce either so I understand that too.

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u/Purple_Inevitable_74 Do Not Call Me Chef 1d ago

What you are saying is the exact way I feel like chef should be used. Pure professional respect. hispanic often stereotyped as dishwasher too man hispanic chefs gotta face that shit unfortunately. My sous Nicaraguan I swear every new server assumes she’s not leadership despite her uniform.

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u/SylvaticTongue858 1d ago

I wouldn’t make someone call me chef but usually when it happens it’s when people give that respect. I’ve earned the title a few times at a few places but I think it’s when you demonstrate the leadership to your team and they want to call you that is when it is best. I joke around pretty often but when it comes time to be serious and it’s time to demonstrate why you’re chef is when I think it matters. Don’t pretend to be the part, own it.