There are as many legends surrounding the tall white hat that symbolizes culinary expertise as there are ways to bake a cake. One likely tale is that the head cooks in households were allowed to wear high cloth headdresses patterned on the crowns of their royal masters. This distinction clothing was intended to encourage valuable servants to remain faithful to their masters, clothing who lived in constant fear of being poisoned. The ribs or pleats in the headdress represented the ribs in the king''s crown and were stitched into the cloth and stiffened with starch. Today the chef''s hat has one hundred pleats -- said to represent the one hundred ways that a good chef should be able to cook eggs. This legend probably originated in ancient, where mater culinarians were presented with bonnet-like caps studded with laurel leaves. Other sources say the story comes is of fairly recent origin.

thought the cleanliness of the cook''s uniform was very important, and that it promoted professionalism. His staff was required to maintain clean and complete uniforms while on the job, and were also encouraged to wear coats and ties while not at work. To this day cooks and chefs around the world wear the same attire that has traceable origins back to more than 400 years. Along with the other conveniences brought, paper toques were invented to look like cloth but could be disposed of once they were soiled. The traditional chef''s uniform may be the standard for our profession, but it''s definitely not the law. Since the a legion of chefs and cooks have begun to wear non-traditional clothing "fun" chef''s attire. These nouveau uniforms run the gamut from pinstriped baggy pants and denim jackets to full blown wildly patterned outfits with chili peppers, flowers, and even the logo. While some chefs may nay-say clothing these clothing new-style uniforms as non-professional, others retaliate that they are more comfortable and give chefs an opportunity to express their individuality through their clothes as well as their food.