Question: Does anyone know anything about the theory that chefs hats represents the number of ways that they know how to prepare eggs? If this is correct, then why is Linguini allowed to wear a chef's hat when he, in fact, isn't one? Wouldn't he be wearing a different hat?
Shannon Jackson
23rd Jul 2009
Chosen answer: This is a legend, which states that the number of pleats on a chef's hat (or toque) represents the number of ways that they know how to prepare an egg. There's certainly no evidence that it's actually true - it would be highly impractical if it were, requiring a chef to get a replacement every time they learned a new method. Regardless, many toques are made with exactly 100 pleats, supposedly based on the idea that there are 100 ways to prepare an egg, however, chefs wear them regardless of their culinary skill in that department.
Tailkinker ★