Anthony Bourdain on NPR

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Huh? Most Chefs are thought of as ****. Only people who find being a cook/chef being cool for the most part are women. I don't know why... but many people perceive being a cook or chef as being sissy jobs. Far from it.

I don't know what universe you are in but that is certainly not the typical sentiment about chefs I generally see expressed.

 

[foodguy]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Huh? Most Chefs are thought of as ****. Only people who find being a cook/chef being cool for the most part are women. I don't know why... but many people perceive being a cook or chef as being sissy jobs. Far from it.

maybe it's that picture of you with the knife? just thinking aloud...

 

[Hombre Secreto]

Originally Posted by foodguy

maybe it's that picture of you with the knife? just thinking aloud...

You remember...

I remember reading "Heat", and Mario Batali's mom tell him to consider cooking school, an he replies: "Cooking school??? That's for ****, mom."

Their is a stigma with being cook, or chef. I've heard it, and seen it with my own eyes.

 

[foodguy]

could be that's why they work so hard at cultivating a badass swagger.

 

[dv_indian]

I like "No Reservations". I would love a job like that - travel to all those cool places and eat at local hot spots.

 

[brlfvr]

Thanks for posting this. Really enjoyed it.

 

[kwilkinson]

I think my thoughts on Bourdain are relatively well known across this board. But having read what my boy foodguy has to say about his new cook, I'd be willing to give it a shot. BTW, I find it absolutely hilarious that people paid money and filled up auditoriums to watch him talk.

Originally Posted by foodguy

i agree, up to a point. what's important is that that's how many people who work in kitchens see themselves. it's not something he invented, but something he latched on to. there is a significant backlash, including from America's Most Famous Chef, who runs kitchens with a very different vibe. a big part of tony's psyche is pissing off his parents (read: shocking the bourgeoisie).
I'm a badass. But not because I'm a cook. Just b/c I'm a badass.

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

You remember...

I remember reading "Heat", and Mario Batali's mom tell him to consider cooking school, an he replies: "Cooking school??? That's for ****, mom."

Their is a stigma with being cook, or chef. I've heard it, and seen it with my own eyes.

That took place 30 years ago. A lot has changed.

 

[Hombre Secreto]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

That took place 30 years ago. A lot has changed.

It still takes place, but I will admit it isn't as severe now. I don't think being a Chef will ever be considered a manly job.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

It still takes place, but I will admit it isn't as severe now. I don't think being a Chef will ever be considered a manly job.

I have honestly never noticed it. I don't mean to say that you're wrong or lying, but that our experiences must be quite different. Nobody around here views cooking as a woman's work or sissy stuff. Or at least, if they do, they never tell me about it.

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

Huh? Most Chefs are thought of as ****. Only people who find being a cook/chef being cool for the most part are women. I don't know why... but many people perceive being a cook or chef as being sissy jobs. Far from it.

I think only someone insecure in their sexuality would worry about this.

 

[Roikins]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I have honestly never noticed it. I don't mean to say that you're wrong or lying, but that our experiences must be quite different. Nobody around here views cooking as a woman's work or sissy stuff. Or at least, if they do, they never tell me about it.

You are one ball away from making it woman's work.

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by erictheobscure

If you watch his show with any regularity, you start to see how eager he is to cling to the most banal narratives. "Oh my god, how does San Francisco have great meat when it's full of vegetarians and hippies! What a crazy paradox!" Meh.

He says things like that tongue-in-cheek. At least, that is the impression I get.

 

[Hombre Secreto]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

I have honestly never noticed it. I don't mean to say that you're wrong or lying, but that our experiences must be quite different. Nobody around here views cooking as a woman's work or sissy stuff. Or at least, if they do, they never tell me about it.
I've seen this mostly from small-minded men who never worked a day in a kitchen. Honestly though... when you think of bad ass jobs a Chef doesn't come to mind.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I think only someone insecure in their sexuality would worry about this.
Maybe, but it could also be that it's a really a tough industry, and being perceived as doing female/sissy (Cooking) work is really disrespectful. I take offense to anyone saying restaurant work is easy, and any punk could do it.

 

[foodguy]

Originally Posted by Hombre Secreto

It still takes place, but I will admit it isn't as severe now. I don't think being a Chef will ever be considered a manly job.

sorry hombre, i think you're way off base here. particularly when it comes to the professional kitchen. quick, name me 6 top women chefs. how about three? alice waters doesn't count because she has never really cooked. in fact, inside the profession, there's quite a little political tiff about this.
now it may be true that it will never be considered as manly as, say, being a hired assassin. but it's certainly as manly as selling men's clothes.

 

[Hombre Secreto]

Originally Posted by foodguy

sorry hombre, i think you're way off base here. particularly when it comes to the professional kitchen. quick, name me 6 top women chefs. how about three? alice waters doesn't count because she has never really cooked. in fact, inside the profession, there's quite a little political tiff about this.
now it may be true that it will never be considered as manly as, say, being a hired assassin. but it's certainly as manly as selling men's clothes.

Kitchens are men dominated, and women don't usually reach the rank of Chef because of discrimination, and all the sexual harassment from the male staff. I've worked under two female Chefs, and they were tough as nails, because they had to be to survive in the industry.

Sorry, but to me a Chef, or being a cook is just a regular job, and nothing badass about it. I just don't see Navy SEAL, and a Chef being in the same bad ass category.