International Chefs Day

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The 20th of October is International Chefs Day.

The day celebrates culinary knowledge and skills, while providing an opportunity for professional chefs demonstrate and transfer some of that knowledge, and to give back to the communities they work in.

In some locales, chefs will donate their time to prepare meals for refugees or people experiencing homelessness. They will also assist with workshops and labs held for school classrooms, and food activities for children to make designated recipes for the day. In these sessions, children learn how to measure ingredients and make one or two easy dishes. They also get given their very own chef’s hats, which they can decorate.

“Chefs can make a big difference when they share their skills; as by doing so, you educate people around you. The ways they can contribute is countless: You can also go to a school and teach the kids about food hygiene. Washing your hands before handling food may be taken for granted, but from my travels around the world, it is obvious that humans need to be constantly reminded. Or for example, you can teach a group of cooks the proper way of butchering meat, so this will generally help them to prevent wastage. If you are good at what you do, you can play your small part in feeding the planet in the future. Chefs can make an impact with people’s lives with their skills, and it goes beyond just pure pleasure on the plate.” — Gudmundsson, Gissur. President of the World Association of Chefs Societies. International Chefs’ Day 2013: Show Your Culinary Ability. 30 April 2013. Accessed October 2021 at https://wacs.lu/international-chefs-day-2013-show-your-culinary-ability/

Other activities today include:

• culinary contests and festivals in cities around the world;
• culinary student competitions in knife skills, bakery, pastry, etc.;
• public displays of kitchen skills such as knife use;
• awards ceremonies;
• interactive cooking demonstrations;
• skills sessions.

The role of chef is one of mankind’s oldest professions, though it’s only in modern times that the profession has come to achieve the standards and respect that it has. The term originally meant “chief”, as in head of a team of kitchen workers, but now it has evolved into a designation to indicate someone with professional qualifications. Often, though, it’s used as an honorific for even cooks without those qualifications.

#InternationalChefsDay #ThisIsWorldchefs #NestleProfessional

Website: https://www.internationalchefsday.worldchefs.org/

ISSU: https://issuu.com/worldchefs

See also: Chef’s Knives, Chef Salad, Chef Style Prime Rib

Resources

Resources for each year are updated annually and are available at: https://www.internationalchefsday.worldchefs.org/

Make sure your recipes are food safe! By incorporating simple food safety instructions in your recipes you can help combat foodborne illness! The Safe Recipe Style Guide is available here → Safe Recipe Guide

History

International Chefs Day was initiated in 2004 by chef Dr. Bill Gallagher of the World Association of Chef’s Societies.

Each year has a different campaign theme:

“In 2009, the association introduced themes so that chefs worldwide can work towards a common goal globally.” ^[1]International Chefs’ Day 2013: Show Your Culinary Ability. World Association of Chefs. 30 April 2013. Accessed October 2021 at https://wacs.lu/international-chefs-day-2013-show-your-culinary-ability/

Nestlé came on as a sponsor in 2015. As part of the sponsorship, the yearly campaign themes began focussing on children.

• 2021: Healthy Food for the Future (repeat)
• 2020: Healthy Food for the Future
• 2019: How Healthy Food Works
• 2018: Healthy Foods for Growing Up
• 2017: Foods for Healthy Heroes
• 2016: Art on a Plate
• 2015: Healthy Kids – Healthy Future
• 2014: Pass it on!
• 2013: Show Your Culinary Ability
• 2012: Feed the Children
• 2011: Size does matter: Sustainable Cuisine
• 2010: Go Green with Chefs
• 2009: Food Waste and Food Safety

Sources

International Chefs Day. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.internationalchefsday.worldchefs.org/

International Chefs Day 20th October. British Culinary Federation. 20 September 2020. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.britishculinaryfederation.com/post/international-chefs-day-20th-october

International Chefs Day celebrated. Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: The Hindu. 24 October 2018. Accessed October 2021 at
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/international-chefs-day-celebrated/article25306564.ece

Johnson, Gail. Celebrate International Chefs Day by helping local cooks serve lunch to the needy in the Downtown Eastside. Vancouver, British Columbia: The Georgia Straight. 20 October 2016. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.straight.com/food/810801/celebrate-international-chefs-day-helping-local-cooks-serve-lunch-needy-downtown

Mathur, Anil. Indian Culinary Forum to celebrate 15th International Chefs’ Day. Haleiwa, HI. Eturbonews. 2 October 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.eturbonews.com/234599/indian-culinary-forum-to-celebrate-15th-international-chefs-day

Naik, Manjushree G. WGSHA celebrates International Chefs Day. Bangalore, Karnataka, India: Deccan Herald. 30 October 2018. Accessed October 2021 at https://www.deccanherald.com/wgsha-celebrates-intl-chefs-700606.html