Whats the origin of the chefs hat?
Dear Straight Dope: What is the origin of the chef’s hat? — Rwatson628 Elementary, my dear Rwatson. The chef’s hat originated when a royal cook in the emply of King Henry VIII started going bald. Henry found a hair in his soup, had the cook beheaded, and ordered the next chef to start wearing a hat (the cook was only too happy to comply). Actually, there are couple of different theories about the origin of the chef’s hat, or toque, and there is probably some truth in both. Some say the toque can be traced back to the seventh century A.D., when chefs were considered learned men (remember that “epicurean” derives from the name of a Greek philosopher, Epicurus). Learned men didn’t always get the respect they deserved, though, and were often persecuted; at such times, they often took refuge in the local church, where they donned the same costumes that the local clergy were wearing, hats and all, as a disguise. Eventually, not wanting to incur the wrath of God any more than the wrath of the
