International Chefs Day – October 20, 2022, history, significance
International Chefs Day is observed all over the world on October 20 of every year. The day celebrates chefs and spreads awareness about eating healthy. Every year, a theme is decided for International Chefs Day — in 2020, it was ‘Healthy Food for the Future,’ and the same theme was repeated in 2021,
although with a deeper focus on sustainability and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations. Dr. Bill Gallagher, a renowned master chef and former president of the World Association of Chefs Societies (Worldchefs), established International Chefs Day in 2004.
History of International Chef Day
International Chef’s Day began back in 2004 by esteemed chef Dr. Bill Gallagher, who at the time was the president of WorldChefs, a network of over 100 chef associations and is focused on bringing education, competition, networking, and sustainability to the authority on cuisine.
This day is focused on educating kids around the world about the importance of eating healthy, promote the career of chefs and help change their local communities. Each year, WorldChefs and their partners create different themes to help broadcast their mission. WorldChefs started when in 1920, a Swiss cook federation introduced the idea of an international chef association, and thus in 1928, WorldChefs was established in Sorbonne, Paris.
Congresses would be held every few years and countries would assume presidency over the organization. For over 90 years and counting, WorldChefs has run from becoming an association to a worldwide organization to help educate people about the importance of healthy food.
In 2017, WorldChefs’ theme was the idea of a superhero or to be exact, “Foods For Healthy Heroes”, and beforehand was about the art of placing food on a plate, or for short, presentation. This day is also used to celebrate the idea of a chef as a noble profession in which they hope to pass down knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation of chefs.
INTERNATIONAL CHEFS DAY TIMELINE
First Century A.D.
The First Cookbook is Written
Roman gourmet Marcus Apicius writes the world’s first cookbook comprising over 400 recipes.
1765
A. Boulanger Opens the First Restaurant
He names his shop ‘restoratives’ or ‘restaurant’ because, according to him, his soups and broths “restore life.”
1846
Auguste Escoffier Establishes the Brigade System
He simplifies kitchen dynamics to reduce work hours for cooks and delegate tasks effectively.
1847
Alexis Soyer’s Soup Kitchens
French chef Alexis Soyer’s ‘famine soup’ serves thousands of the Irish poor in the Great Irish Famine.
HOW TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL CHEFS DAY
Cook something healthful
What better way to celebrate this day than to cook something ourselves? Since this year’s theme is ‘Healthy Foods for the Future,’ preparing a quick and nutritious meal might be worth a try.
Watch cooking videos
Show some love to the YouTuber chefs who share their delicious recipes with us for free. You can leave some nice comments as well.
Visit a local culinary school and explore
If you’re ever curious about what it’s like to be a chef, you could search for the nearest culinary school and pay them a visit. You could also chat with the students and educators about the programs they offer.
5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT CHEFS AND THE CULINARY ARTS
The chef’s hat carries a secret code
The folds in a chef’s hat represent the number of different ways they could cook an egg.
Italy’s royalty received the first pizza delivery
In 1889, the first-ever pizza delivery was made to the king and queen of Italy by the most famous pizza chef.
The “Michelin Guide” originated from tire sellers
The famous “Michelin Guide,” which awards up to three stars of excellence to the best restaurants, was started by Michelin Tires, as part of an advertising campaign to sell tires.
The potato chip was a prank
In 1853, an annoyed customer kept sending back his fried potatoes to the kitchen because they were too thick, so the chef sliced the potatoes into razor-thin pieces and sprinkled extra salt on them; and to everyone’s surprise, this became a hit dish.
Anthony Bourdain’s custom chef’s knife
A master bladesmith and friend of Bourdain’s, Bob Kramer, forged and presented to Bourdain a kitchen knife out of steel and meteorite.
WHY WE LOVE INTERNATIONAL CHEFS DAY
To show gratitude to chefs
Chefs deserve to be celebrated for putting so much care and effort into our meals. Life would be absolutely bland without them.
To celebrate the chefs within us
Each of us has a little chef within. We also do small-scale experiments with food. Adding extra chili flakes to the pizza slice so that it perfectly suits our taste buds is a culinary skill.
To encourage healthy diets
Nutritious food can also be delicious. International Chefs Day is ultimately an initiative to remind us about the importance of a healthy diet.
