Coastal American cuisine is celebrated for its diversity and reflects the abundant natural resources and rich history of the region. Each coastal cuisine has its distinct identity from the Creole and Cajun dishes of the Gulf Coast to the clam chowders of New England. Having said that, cooking in these coastal regions is always challenging for any experienced and new chef. The humid climate, sea breezes, and challenges of handling different spices in hot and bustling kitchens may drive chefs to choose chef apparel that's functional and stylish at the same time. This post will take you on a palatable tour of popular coastal American cuisine, the demands of cooking in coastal areas, and the essential chef attire for cooking in these areas.
A Brief Overview of Coastal American Cuisine
This section offers insights on coastal American cuisine and their specialties.
- New England: The cuisine of New England is inspired by Native American Cuisine and English Cuisine. This cuisine is characterized by extensive use of seafood including clams, lobsters, and scallops, and ingredients like beans, potatoes, and dairy products. It focuses on the old English methods of boiling, steaming, and baking Native American ingredients like shellfish, corn, game, potatoes, and seafood.
- Mid-Atlantic: Influences of Dutch, German, and African American cuisines can be seen in dishes from this region like crab cakes, oysters, and saltwater taffy. This region is also known for dishes like Lobster Newberg, Philadelphia pepper pot, and so on. These dishes involve various cooking methods, including boiling, stewing, roasting, frying, and baking.
- West Coast: Influences of Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean and American cuisines combined with fresh, local, and often organic ingredients can be seen in popular dishes from this region like fish tacos, cioppino, and sushi. Grilling, steaming, and baking are some popular techniques chefs employ to whip out these popular dishes.
- Southern Coast/Gulf Coast: Influences of Creole, Cajun, and Spanish cuisines can be seen on dishes from this region. Key ingredients include seafood such as oysters, shrimp, and various types of fishes, along with okra, rice, spices, and lots of Cajun seasoning. Signature dishes include gumbo, jambalaya, and shrimp and grits. Braising, smoking, barbecuing, and deep frying are common techniques chefs from this region employ.
The dishes from these cuisines appeal with their unique taste and also present distinct challenges for the chefs who often spend a long time in kitchens satisfying their clients.
Challenges of Coastal Cooking
Coastal cooking comes with its own set of challenges, such as:
- Comfort and breathability: The coastal kitchens are humid, hot, and sticky. Thus, chefs need breathable fabrics that help them navigate through humid environments and keep them comfortable. Cotton and lightweight blends are popular among chefs from this region.
- Durability and Protection: As discussed before, seafood is the main ingredient of coastal kitchens. Handling seafood in humid kitchens can be cumbersome. Hence, chefs always prefer kitchen apparel that can withstand frequent washing, stains, spills and splashes, and offer extra protection while cooking seafood.
- Mobility: Commercial kitchens in coastal areas are busier than others because many people love hitting beaches and nearby places. Hence, chef apparel that allows easy mobility in kitchen environments must be chosen.
- Safety: As said before, coastal cuisine demands hot surfaces and open flames, humidity can add to further challenges. So, chef apparel crafted from flame-resistant fabrics, and slip-resistant shoes are a better choice in these areas.
Essential Chef Apparel for Coastal Cuisine
Given the challenges of coastal cuisine, here’s a peek through apparel for chefs specializing in this cuisine.
- Chef Coats and Chef Jackets: Whether you choose chef coats or chef jackets, choose the ones made with breathable fabrics. The breathable fabrics will help chefs stay cool in hot and humid conditions. Breathable chef coats with underarm vents and mesh panels will help improve airflow through the apparel. Also, you can choose between short and long-sleeved chef jackets. The short-sleeved lightweight chef jackets are ideal for warmer climates and long-sleeved ones are suited for chefs who handle boiling liquids and oils.
- Chef Pants: The pants are made with moisture-wicking fabric which help chefs stay comfortable through long shifts. Choose pants with drawstrings or elastic waistbands for ease of movement.
- Chef Aprons: Functional aprons are a must-have in coastal kitchens. Aprons that ensure full coverage, like bib aprons, are essential in such kitchens, as they protect you from spills and splashes from sauces and oils.
- Footwear: Water and oil spills are common in coastal kitchens. So, chefs must choose slip-resistant chef shoes to prevent accidents in kitchen that provide adequate support for long hours on feet in the kitchen.
- Gloves: Handling hot grills, saucepans, and ovens require experience, expertise, and a pair of gloves that protect chefs from accidental spills. Waterproof gloves are the best choice in these conditions.
- Headwear: As with other commercial kitchens, maintaining kitchen hygiene is essential in any coastal kitchen. Most chefs prefer using beanies, skull caps, and lightweight traditional chef hats to achieve this. Choosing hats made from breathable materials is always better to wick away sweat and keep hair strands in place.
So, you may have realized that coastal cooking requires more than kitchen skills. It demands moisture-wicking chef attire, allowing chefs to stay cool and function in messy coastal kitchens. If you have been considering high-quality, moisture-wicking chef attire for your team or yourself, ChefsCloset is here to serve you. We provide one of the extensive collections of chef attire, including breathable chef coats, lightweight chef jackets, durable aprons, comfortable footwear, etc. Contact us today to discuss your requirements.