The toque, a tall, brimless hat, is the most recognizable chef’s hat and signifies a professional chef trained in the culinary arts. Other types of chef hats include the flared toque, beanie, beret, skull cap, plastic cap, and baseball cap, but all serve the same purpose of keeping hair and sweat out of food. The toque is traditionally white and may be pleated, with more creases indicating more experience and seniority in the kitchen. Other informal chef hats include the casquette, beret, skull cap, and garrison cap.
The origin of the original chef’s hat is shrouded in mystery, as no one knows precisely when these hats first appeared in royal kitchens. Probably the most recognizable chef’s hat is known as the toque, or “toque blanche” in French. While no one seems to know exactly when this hat was originally developed, this tall, stiff brimless hat was incorporated as an official chef’s uniform in 19th century France by a popular and skilled cook. The toque is today worn by chefs around the world, but other chef hats have since appeared, including the flared toque hat, beanie, beret, skull cap, plastic cap, and baseball cap. No matter the type of hat, all chef hats serve the same purpose: to keep hair and sweat out of the chef’s food and supplies.
A chef is generally defined as a professional who cooks food in a kitchen, but more specifically, a chef is a qualified professional cook who is trained and experienced in the culinary arts. A true chef has a hat, the toque. The toque may be pleated or it may have a flared top, but this special type of headgear distinguishes the chef, signifying her professional position in the kitchen among the other workers. A chef skillfully trained in the culinary arts and working in a professional setting does not wear a hat or baseball cap as part of his uniform.
The toque is approximately 9 inches (228 mm) to 12 inches (305 mm) tall and is traditionally white. Some toque chef hats are pleated. The creases show the skill of the chef, since the more creases in the hat, the more experience and seniority the chef has in the kitchen. A hat with 100 folds shows exceptional skill, as tradition holds that 100 folds is the reward for the chef’s mastery of 100 different methods of cooking an egg. In some areas, a taller hat, rather than the number of creases, signifies culinary superiority.
In a more informal setting, the head cook may be referred to as the chef, even though this person has not been trained and certified as an educated, professional chef. A short order cook may wear a cap or plastic cap secured to his head with an elastic band. Such a uniform can be considered a chef’s hat in today’s more casual kitchen settings. Some hats sport a brim, called a casquette.
Other types of informal chef hats include the beret, a popular headgear worn by Italian pizza makers. Skull caps and garrison caps, popular after the world wars, are other types of unofficial chef’s hats, although these hats are usually seen in military or casual settings. The baseball cap has become a popular hat for cooks. Modern hats can include an affiliate or supplier’s emblem or logo, just like their designer’s polo shirts and jean labels.
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