Exploring the Significance of the Traditional Chef’s Uniform in Making Sense of Professionalism in Culinary Arts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Authors

Orla Mc Connell, Technological University DublinFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7242-8186

Supervisors

Dr Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire

Abstract

Previous studies have found that professionalism is an important success factor for chefs. Yet, research on what professionalism “means” to chefs, and how they “make sense” of it, is currently underexplored. While there is some evidence of the significance of the traditional chef’s uniform in professional identity formation, it also needs further consideration. Culinary arts lecturers and chefs have already contributed to these discussions, but the student voice remains largely unknown. Alongside this, there is no prior research specifically on professionalism in culinary arts in Ireland. Therefore, a research gap emerged, which this paper intends to address. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), the research sought the experiences of mature culinary arts students, on a part-time degree in Ireland, to explore if the traditional chef’s uniform has had any role in forming their sense of professionalism and professional identity. In-depth semi-structured interviews took place with ten participants. Interviews were transcribed and analysed to produce personal experiential themes (PETs) and subsequent group experiential themes (GETs). The focus of this paper is on the GET on the uniform’s significance and related four sub-themes. The findings reveal that the traditional attire is a marker of professionalism and the wearing of such can be transformational and empowering. However, the uniform is also seen as part of the responsibility and conditioning of the chef. Chefs, academics, culinary arts students, and further and higher education bodies may find the research of interest. At a time when some contemporary chefs are discarding the traditional attire, this research reinforces previous tentative findings regarding the persistent role of the uniform in forming an individual’s sense of professionalism.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Mc Connell, Orla (2023) "Exploring the Significance of the Traditional Chef’s Uniform in Making Sense of Professionalism in Culinary Arts using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis," European Journal of Food Drink and Society: Vol. 3: Iss. 1, Article 4.
doi:https://doi.org/10.21427/C1JN-H358
Available at: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/ejfds/vol3/iss1/4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21427/C1JN-H358