Have you ever wondered why a traditional chef’s hat looks so distinctive? Between the height, the white fabric, and the many pleats around the outside, it’s an unmistakable symbol of culinary prestige. But how did this hat, formally known as a “toque blanche,” gain its iconic shape?
Legend has it that each of the pleats represents a skill in the chef’s repertoire. The best-known story about the toque blanche is that its 100 folds signify 100 different ways to cook an egg—essential knowledge for accomplished chefs.
The toque’s origins are surprisingly unclear, with some sources suggesting it was modeled after Ottoman military headgear. Others point much further back, to the cloth headdresses worn in ancient Assyria in the 7th century B.C., or to the chefs in monastery kitchens in the Byzantine Empire in the 6th century A.D., whose hats were inspired by those worn by Orthodox priests.
Unfortunately, none of these stories can be verified. During the 19th century, the toque gradually came to resemble its modern form. In the 1820s, the French chef Marie-Antoine Carême put a round piece of cardboard into his floppy beret-style cap, and images of French chefs from the late 1800s show them wearing toque-style hats, although nowhere near as tall as modern versions.
Although numerous publications and culinary experts have researched the egg legend, no one seems to know how it started, though Auguste Escoffier’s authoritative Guide Culinaire, published in 1903, does include 143 recipes for preparing eggs. It’s possible that the connection between egg expertise and toque pleats developed as an homage to Escoffier.
The mystery of the pleats:
- Regardless of the toque’s origins or the veracity of the egg legend, the hat undoubtedly serves a practical purpose by keeping the chef’s hair out of the food and maintaining good hygiene in the kitchen. According to legend, King Henry VIII once beheaded a chef who accidentally left a hair in his meal.
- Many toques are around 8 inches tall, although senior chefs sometimes wear toques as high as 12 inches. Traditionally, the tallest hat in the kitchen is worn by the executive chef.
- The number of pleats on a toque also appears to vary significantly. Although some do have 100 pleats, others have far fewer.
