Spring: Chef Crush

photo by TEP

I walked down the street with a fellow diner. As she described one of the restaurants she frequented she mentioned stated the chef was one of her 'chef crushes'.  I looked at the  woman for a
moment  and thought, 'did she say 'chef crush'?' She certainly did and surprisingly, I understood exactly what she meant.

So what is a chef crush?  I think the chefcrush website's description is a good place to start:
Because cooking makes a person cute and sometimes even sexy! We love good food, and we totally crush on the people who cook it for us. These dreamy chefs make us feel all tingly inside, like we’re back in junior high flipping through the glossy pages of our teen magazines.

Personally, I don't think of my chef crushes as 'cute' or 'sexy'. The chefs I tend to 'crush on' or admire generally fall into one of several categories:

photo by TEP

• They are passionate about cooking and have a charismatic, charming , or sometimes humorous way about them
• They engage with customers and build relationships because they know that repeat customers will refer their business to others in their network
• They are shy, but blossom like a flower when discussing food
• They seek feedback about their dishes and are constantly evolving their dishes

Notice that I didn't mention gender, looks, or size. This is also not about stalking or engaging in any behaviors that would cause discomfort or embarrassment to either party or a visit from the police. This about having a healthy respect for oneself and  for the chef, but admiring the craft and the chef's talent.

Can you have a crush on more than one chef at a time? Absolutely!


photo by TEP

Do YOU have a chef crush? Have you had a chef crush? What made the chef appealing?

A sincere thanks to my chef crushes for the work that you do. I raise my glass to you!

Be well,

Technicolor girl