Tell me what the differences and similarities are between a Chef, a gourmet cook and a great cook at home.?

Answer 1

I remember a TV Chef when asked what is the difference between a chef and a cook said " A chef doesn't have to wash dishes "

Answer 2

Well, the obvious similarities are that they are all good cooks in terms of making food that tastes good. But a Chef is also a general. They work quickly and efficiently, masters at not only controlling what they are doing but the actions around them. They can handle almost any situation, but are renowned for their fierce tempers.

I'm a bit lost at what a gourmet cook does who isn't a chef, so I'll assume you mean someone who works on a more exclusive basis. They have most skills in common with the chef, but are less of a field general, and have a greater intution when it comes to flavor. Plus, they are more inclined to search out new things to cook rather than wait for trends to come to them.

Finally, the great home cook really only needs the skill to make great tasting food. But they have the added benifit of being able to make menus based entirely off of the tastes of those who are dining. Some home cooks are also entertainers, I am just a cook myself but a really good one. So while I might get some flowers and candles, and a good wine or some imported beer, I don't put alot into the "show" of it, preffering to let the food stand for itself. The one advantage I've noticed as a home cook is that when I'm on the dregs of my cupboard, I buy the same things so often that I know what I can improvise. Maybe some of those Iron Chef guys, but I don't know how many gourmets can improvise such a random pile of junk.

Answer 3

my mum is a great cook at home. she has cooked family dinners 7 days a week for more than 40 years. 1 husband & 7 children have all grown up healthy and with great knowledge of how to run an effective home kitchen. Always made from scratch and barely a take away dinner seen. Bread, jam, sauces, puddings, roasts, cakes, soups all made with love and from the heart.
A gourmet cook is someone who really loves cooking for cooking, perfecting all the recipes and becoming acomplished in a skill that takes perservance, timing, balance, chemistry, biology, calculation and love. Some of my friends are gourmet cooks.
A chef has trained to learn how to cook for a career, goes to work and gets paid and has to provide good results with food and kitchen management, guests are paying for a service that includes food and food service. I am a professional chef.

Answer 4

Well without going to google and looking this up. I'll say that number one, Home cooking tends to be more rustic as in the vegatables and meat isnt cut all the same and the cuts tend to be larger. The plating for home cooking is what is considered to be "family style" which is just a big plate or pan with the food in it. Gourmet tends to have everything cut up perfectly. The plating is extravagant. The food choosen in gourmet recipes happens to be much more expensive. If you wanna find some of these ingredients try looking up things such as Kobe Beef, Fois Gras, Truffles.

Answer 5

The Chef isn't allowed to drink wine on the job.

The gourmet cook uses cooking wine, and knows what wines to serve with the meal.

and

A great cook at home has a well-stocked wine cellar for drinking during meal prep, while the meal is cooking, and while eating the meal.

Answer 6

A chef is a professional cook, who may work in a restaurant, hotel, institutional food service or other professional kitchen. The term originally referred to the rank of head cook, but has become generalized to any trained, professional cook.

Answer 7

I can tell you that they're all capable of making delicious food. To truly be a chef you need a certificate and a degree that says you can work under that title. I'd give you more detail but I'd have to get my book out. I'm a culinary arts student, by the way. I'll be back later with more details if you don't get the information from someone else, soon.

Answer 8

The price!

Answer 9

One gets paid, one loves doing it, and the last is just good at it.

Answer 10

^ It's kind of like real estate, location, location, location.