How to pamper chefs
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Being a chef is a twenty-four seven job. It entails long hours, working Diwalis and no weekend breaks.
They are the people most in need of some pampering. Every year, October 20 is celebrated as International Chefs Day, and there is no better time to ask chefs what they regard as pampering. Physical exertion is a constant in the kitchen and chefs are on their foot for atleast 8-10 hours everyday.
Chef Anuradha Joshi Medhora believes nothing compares to a relaxing foot and back massage. She is the founder of the Mumbai-based catering and delivery brand Charoli that spotlights the food of Malwa. Most of her dishes, like the indulgent mutton barbat from Gwalior, require hours of slow cooking.
She stands next to vessel, carefully monitoring their flavours and ensuring the food doesn’t burn. “While stirring, you put your lower back into it, and it starts to hurt," she points out. A massage that relaxes those muscles and releases any stubborn knots is the best way to pamper her, or any chef, she points out.
Yajush Malik, chef and partner at the restaurant Gallops in Mumbai, agrees with her. He is a fan of foot massages. According to him, it is not just the long hours of standing in the kitchen, but also footwear that adds to their woes.
To maintain safety, chefs need safety shoes for professional kitchens with a thin steel lining in the toe area to prevent injuries if heavy and hot vessels fall on their foot by accident. These are not very comfortable and thick socks are needed for cushioning. Essentially, the feet bear the brunt of a physically demanding job in uncomfortable footwear.
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