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Sun 14 Mar, 2004 07:02 am
I don't know whether you have noticed this but I am appalled at what TV chefs do. for example one was demonstrating how to quarter a chicken, this invoved a lot of handling including pulling the skin off, with the most cursory wipe of his hands on a towel he then went to the "here are some I made earlier" and started to handle the cooked food without having washed his hands. Perhaps he hasn't heard of salmonella.
Yesterday I saw another chef suck some sauce off his thumb and forefinger and then pick up slices of cold meat to finish off the starter he was making.
This is with a million viewers looking on, I dread to think what they do in their own restaurants when no one is watching.
There are good kitchens and bad ones. Good kitchens have high standards and chefs who compete to be the best, most professional. I heard chefs reem out people for sloppy habits on several occasions. Chefs are one the few proffesions that can get away with abusive chastisment on a regular basis. In a good kitchen, cleanliness and order is essential. That and in most restaurants you would have stations. Most chefs wear gloves when handling raw meat.
If you dine at chain restaurants you takes your chances.
The TV chefs also show you a pot roast, two chicken dishes and a tasty dessert in thirty minutes... I think the TV cooking shows are part entertainment, part cooking suggestion; and I wouldn't expect top chefs in restaurant kitchens to really be so careless.
Besides, Emeril always reminds people that when they cook a chicken, they should wash their hands before and after, wash the cutting board with hot soapy water, not use the same knife for other foods without washing it, have your suit dry cleaned, wash the car... in short, be Very Careful about raw meat and sanitation.
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