Which Restaurant Uniforms are right for you?

Being part of or leading a kitchen is a very stressful and hectic operation, but one in which organization and professionalism are essential in order to ensure smooth operation. Restaurant uniforms reflect this. They identify all the professionalism, cleanliness and, above all, respect that a chef must convey. Their most iconic symbol is the toque blanche, the French name for Chef’s Hat. Anywhere in the world, this is one of the most emblematic accessories capable of immediately identifying a chef.

The use of a Chef’s Hat is recommended for all professionals in a kitchen. It is mainly worn for hygiene reasons. The aim is to prevent hair from coming loose and ending up on customers’ plates, which can be a real nuisance.

This accessory is also used in restaurant uniforms, as it is very practical when the stoves are running at full speed. The chef’s hat helps to absorb moisture from the forehead, which is often subject to intense perspiration. This accessory combines hygiene with daily comfort in the workplace.

What are the Restaurant Uniforms and what are their characteristics?

Traditional restaurant uniforms consist of a chef’s hat, a white jacket and plaid pants. This type of professional uniform for the hotel and restaurant industry is steeped in history, and the chefs who choose to wear it not only do so as a tribute to these traditions, but also as a mark of esteem and respect for their profession and the customers in their restaurants.

In addition to the history imbued in these Restaurant Uniforms, each piece of this Professional Uniform also has a specific purpose of protecting and assisting the Chef in the performance of his work. Nothing is left out, from the design to the type of fabric and the finishes given to the workwear.

The traditional Chef ‘s Uniform consists of:

• A tall, plumedhat in a cylindrical shape
• White or blackjacket with front fastening
• Wide pants with a Pied Du Poul check pattern
• The origins of this type of work uniform date back to the 19th century, when the well-known French chef Marie-Antoine Carême began wearing it as a way of paying homage to the work of chefs. The chef’s hat was already widely worn, but Marie-Antoine instituted other elements, including the choice of white. The Kitchen Uniform was then taken to Western countries by French Chef Georges Auguste Escoffier where it achieved great popularity and soon spread around the world.
  Today many Chefs continue to wear the full Traditional Uniform, while others choose to forgo the White Hat altogether in favor of the pirate scarf or hairnet.

Accessories and Clothing for Catering Uniforms

Traditional chef’s hats can be more about position and identity than comfort or functionality. The modern version of a chef’s hat has undergone some design adjustments in order to comply with stricter food hygiene regulations to make them more hygienic and safe, as well as easier to wash and maintain.

The chef’s hat should be as light and comfortable as possible to provide well-being for the wearer. It should fit snugly over your head and fit you as well as possible.

Chef’s jackets should be made from a substantial, top-quality fabric, but it should be lightweight and combine comfort with protection. A suitable jacket, in terms of fabric, model and design, should be able to withstand the following hazards:

• Extremeheat
• Boiling liquids
• Steam explosions
• Sharp chef’sknives and kitchen utensils
• Chef’s jackets are an extremely important part of a chef’s uniform. A proper smock shouldprotect you from heat, hot oil and anything else that can burn a kitchen worker. Another very important role that a chef’s uniform plays is in building an image of quality and professionalism.

What should you look out for when buying your Catering Uniform?

There are a few points you should think about before buying your chef’s jacket. Do you want long or short sleeves? Chinese collar or round collar? With a chef’s cuff or a loose cuff?

There’s no right or wrong answer, but most of the time it’s a matter of personal preference and also of the characteristics of your space.

Consider the following:

• Style – Are you looking for a more classic or more modern style?
• Comfort – Does it offer you freedom of movement during your working day, increasing your level of comfort?
• Durability – Are the Restoration Uniforms, and more specifically the jackets, exposed to some wear and tear and a few washes, made from a fabric and have they been designed to increase durability?
• Fabric – Would you like a jacket with a lighter, fresher fabric or a special finish?
• Pattern – Are there any features you’d like to have, such as different pockets and button types?
• The long sleeves help protect the arms from hot surfaces.
• Short sleeves help you stay cooler by allowing air to circulate around your arms.
• Chef’s pierced jackets – These are made with a double layer of fabric that allows you to swap the dirty front for a clean inside. This is particularly advantageous when, for example, you work in an open kitchen or customers have a full view of your space. The double-breasted jacket gives your body extra protection against heat or anything that could burn you.
• Single-breasted jackets are lighter than double-breasted jackets. So if you work in a very hot kitchen, you’ll especially want a uniform designed to keep you cool.

Classic or Modern Catering Uniforms?

Chef’s jackets have traditionally been white, but many chefs are starting to “break” with this tradition. Nowadays, many kitchen professionals are taking a more modern approach to their Catering Uniforms, moving away from classic white. Some chefs like to wear black jackets, while the rest of the staff wear white, as this immediately identifies the hierarchy. Black or other colored jackets are great for open kitchens. The change in color can also consolidate your brand identity, making it attractive and distinctive.

Kitchens are busy places where spills and stains can occur. The secret to maintaining the Chef’s White Pant is to treat stains as soon as possible. A quick wash will help remove these stains more easily, as well as oil, dirt and cooking odors that can penetrate the fabric.

It’s also important to have several clean jackets for your Catering Uniforms, so that you can change them if necessary.

In the case of stains, treat them beforehand with an enzyme-based stain remover, or a little quality liquid detergent, applied directly to the soiled areas. Rub the stain remover into each stain using a soft brush. Leave the stain remover on the fabric for at least 15 minutes before washing.

Since kitchen jackets cannot be washed immediately after each use, pre-soaking will make it easier to remove stains. So, fill a container with warm water, detergent, a cup of baking soda and non-chlorine bleach (in the case of white kitchen jackets).

Follow the product instructions for the amount of detergent and non-chlorine bleach to use per liter of water. Soak the white underwear until it’s time to wash. This step will start the process of removing stains and odors.

Finally, wash the white items separately from the colored ones using the water temperature recommended on the label. In order to remove stains, you should always use warmer water, as cold water will not remove stubborn stains.

What is the best work uniform for a chef?

If you work in front of a stove, the best thing to wear is a long-sleeved jacket and an apron, while if you work at a food preparation station, you can wear a short-sleeved jacket without an apron.

What is a smock?

Kitchen coveralls are an important part of professional uniforms. They protect the wearer from the inherent dangers of being a cook, such as direct heat from stoves or hot splashes of oil. There are many styles available, including long-sleeved, short-sleeved, with a Chinese collar or round neckline. The type of jacket you choose depends on your personal preference as well as the image you want to convey to your restaurant’s customers. Personalized lab coats help you build a more professional and distinctive image for your business.

What is the function of pants in a kitchen uniform?

Like jackets, chef’s pants help to protect professionals working in a kitchen and prevent food contamination during preparation. The pants should allow the wearer mobility and breathability, thus providing all the necessary comfort.

Discover the HISI by Unifardas Restaurant Uniform Collection

The Restaurant Uniforms collection is the result of Unifardas’ commitment to providing its customers with high quality, high performance products. The uniforms are manufactured to meet the needs of workers in the hotel and restaurant sector, offering an elegant and modern image, as well as providing comfort and practicality for day-to-day work.