The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-21
KINGS OF THE KITCHEN,
The Irtistic Dignity and Importance
OF Master rCooks---SnlarieS and Per-
quiSites Enjoyed by Chefs.

The %rtistic Dignity and Importance
OF Master Cooks-- -Snlaries and Per-
quisites Enioyed by Chefs.
philadelphia Press Interview.1
"Do cooks, or, perhaps it would be
better to say chief cooks, receive largo
salarics?"
"Thcy receive very excellent salaries.
Larger than many head bank clerks or
chief salosmcn III dry goods houses.
Tho stomach appeals as forcibly rs the
brain. The Hoffman house, in New
York, pays its chief $4,000 year.
Delmonico and tho Bellevue Of this
city annually $4,000. That, however,
is only the money portion. A chief re-
ceives his board, lodging and vino in
addition-all of tho best description.
The Bellevue cook is also provided with
his clothes, made by first-class tailor.
The salaries paid by other hotels in the
country vary from $4,000 to $4,000.
No chief of ability would take any less
than the last named sum, and only then
under pressure. Assistant cooks, often
apprentices of the chief, receive
salaries varying from $12J to $65 per
month, with board"
"Of what nationality are cooks?"
"Ncarly all of them are French.
There are few English, one or two
German and American, but tho land of
Gaul is the homo Of culinary artists.
The French cooks are close brother
hood. They hand down the secrets of
their profession one to the other. They
graduate under the tuition of the older
members of the fraternity, to whom
they refer with the same reverence that
a young painter pays to his master.
The cooking Of certain dishes, the in
gradients of particular sauces, the flavor
ing of special SOUPS, are only revealed
to junior members of the profession un-
der promises of sirictcst confidence, and
also only when it has been decided that
the novices desiring initiation will be
able to do proper Justice to the making
OF the chef d nuvro."
I'm tho ktchci:," continued the hotel
! proprietor, "thc chef is supreme. In.
deed, all over the house the chef is
treated with the respect due to q cen.
! tleman. He has his distinct table and
! servants to wait upon hin Hc gencr
ally invites his chief assistant to dine
with him. Nothing menial, it is under.
! stood, is attached to his Office, and
walters abstain from Familiarity with
him. Cocktails are served to him when
! he arises; clarct with his lunch and
any wines he desires at his meals
Cooks have seldom been known to be
come drunkards, or even gluttons.
They have far too fine perception of
taste and flavor to abuse either. 7
have known a chef to invite brother
artist to dinner, and tho Dair bavo
dwelt over certain dishes with the same
lingering scrutiny and affection that q
sculptor bestOws on his finest Droduc-
tion. Soyer, the greatest living cook OF
the last century, ut times wept bitterly
because tho dishes he occasionally
served to crowned heads were not prop
erly appreciated by their royal consum,
crs. Roman cmperors covered their
cooks With honors, and monarchs' OF
the middle ages frequently knightcd
the kings Of their kitchens. Indeed, in
the present day, the art Of cooking is
not despised by the finest gentlemen,
Our Fish House club in this CITY is an
instance. The clubs in this country
! and in Europe could produce several
rivals even to noted chefs"
"And chefs in private housos?"
caro- not quite in as good a position
40 SllClo Ill SluDo tllIl llOUSlS. lllpY OF
| ton have more to do, and loss assistance
Their salaries are generally of the
! highest average, but the men them
selves arc seldom artists of the first ey.
ccllcnce. Vanderbilt, Havamcycr and
other millionarcs of New York employ
men of Gordon blcu rank, but outside
New York there are few private fam
llies IN America who rise to the dignity
of q man cook. Mr. Drcxel is the ONLY
man in this city who employs one"
"But Philadclphians have cooks?"
eyes, women, who receive wages
say, from 81 to So a week; and YcrI
good cooks many of tho women are
But there is always something lacking
A picture by n novice may bo very
pleasing; by genius it may be wonder.
ful in conception and cyccution--,but {
few touches in each inst ace from the
brush of the maestro and what o diff
fercnce!"