Chef’s Jacket, Emeril’s Delmonico
name: label: maker
content: Bragard
notes: label: Description
content: This white, long-sleeved chef’s jacket was worn by Chef Emeril Lagasse at Emeril’s Delmonico in New Orleans. “Emeril’s Delmonico” is embroidered in red above the left pocket; “Chef Emeril Lagasse” is embroidered on the right. The front of the jacket has been hand signed by Emeril with his slogan “Bam” written in black marker in the center.
label: Description
content: Chef jackets are the uniform of choice for many culinary professionals. The double-breasted design makes them easily reversible to conceal stains and the thick cotton material can be bleached clean. It also insulates chefs from hot grills, ovens, and stovetops, protecting them from hot liquids and splatter. Emeril typically wears chef jackets while working in his restaurants, during his cooking shows, and for public appearances. Emeril’s Delmonico is located on the historic streetcar line on St. Charles Avenue. The original Delmonico restaurant opened in 1895, but underwent extensive renovations and was reopened by Emeril in 1998. Since reopening, the Delmonico has been home to Louisiana Creole cuisine and celebrated for its New Orleans style architecture.
label: Description
content: Emeril Lagasse grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts working in a Portuguese bakery; he then pursued a degree at the Johnson and Wales University culinary program, turning his passion into a career. After working in fine restaurants throughout the Northeast, Emeril made the move to New Orleans to become the executive chef of the legendary Commander’s Palace. Emeril went on to open his own restaurants including his first, Emeril’s in New Orleans, in 1990, followed by NOLA in 1992, Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in 1995, and Emeril’s Delmonico in 1998. Emeril’s successful career in the restaurant industry was complemented by his television stardom.
label: Description
content: Emeril appeared with Julia Child on her program Cooking with Master Chefs, and the episode, which featured a crab and crawfish boil, was a hit. Producers thought Emeril’s culinary talents and ease in front of the camera would make him an ideal host on the Television Food Network, which launched in 1993. His first show, How to Boil Water, was designed for viewers new to cooking. During the show Emeril read from a script, following the existing format of educational public television programs. The show was unsuccessful, and in response the Food Network re-imagined the type of programming it would broadcast, placing Emeril at the center of this transformation. New programming, like Emeril Live, relied on the host’s personality to win over audiences. With a signature slogan of, “Bam!,” a studio audience full of fans and a live band, Emeril Live represented the beginning of a new era of food television, and a model for future Food Network programs.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Food Technology
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content: Food
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Emeril Lagasse
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2012.0077.04
label: catalog number
content: 2012.0077.04
label: accession number
content: 2012.0077
objectType: label: Object Name
content: cook's jacket
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: cotton (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: white (overall color)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 32 5/8 in x 42 3/4 in; 82.8675 cm x 108.585 cm