See photos of Kansas City chefs' ink at pitch.com/slideshow.
Chef Patrice Welcher smiles as she makes a knuckle sandwich. No, that's not the name of a special on the menu of Sharp's 63rd Street Grill, the Brookside restaurant where she works.
Welcher balls her hands into fists that look as ready to punch as to prepare a meal. Above each of her knuckles, letters have been etched into her skin with black ink: S-A-N-D on her right hand, W-I-C-H on her left.
The tongue-in-cheek letters aren't Welcher's only tattoos. Like more than a few chefs these days, she has made her body a canvas, with patches of inky permanence, in a dizzying array of hues, embedded in her skin.
She's part of a new wave of kitchen professionals. "America has progressed to a point where people can express themselves on their bodies and have it be OK," Cesar Reyes of Succotash says.
Social binds have loosened up — even our moms have logged a little time under the needle. But these intricate ink jobs go further, attesting to the modern chef's very identity.
"Chefs and cooks have tattoos because we have always been a part of the underbelly, the blue-collar resistance to the Man," Welcher says. She has the words blue collar tattooed in script around her, well, collar. "It separates us from the white-collar stiffs."
Their self-identification as hard-knock, rough-and-tumble types makes Welcher, Reyes and their peers in KC (and around the country) more likely to have tattoos.
"It's just the lifestyle," Quillan Glynn of Pizza Bella says. "A lot of going out after work, not causing trouble but having fun ... kind of goes along with getting tattoos."
Ink has become part of the trade's regalia. Under the white double-breasted tunics and stiff toques — or instead of them — are colorful sleeves and wax-tipped mustaches.
You can thank reality TV for drawing this new breed of inked food wizards and badasses out of the kitchen and into the limelight. As Bravo and the Food Network teach more people the difference between a cherry tomato and an heirloom, chefs have begun earning — and seeking — notice outside the food industry.
"The media is showing the back of the house in the front," Welcher says. "We're finally getting recognized. We do exist."
Yet an artist is at the core of this rugged (and sometimes hairy) shell. Many chefs share the same reverence for the art of tattooing as they do for their own highly skilled vocation. And there's more overlap between the two than meets the eye. It takes attention to texture, color and detail to wow diners, as it does to rock a tattoo, and mastery of either doesn't come without pain: burns, punctured skin, a little blood.
But if the chefs' on-the-job creations are meant more for ingestion than appreciation, their tattoos are just for them and for one another. "I'm glad my brothers are out there," Reyes says.
A few brothers — and sisters — in restaurants across town let us peek into their secret society. The chefs' tattoos rival their dishes in creativity and presentation.
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I am happy to know that people have so many nice things to say about me on this page, but I assure you the amt. of time I have put into what I do may not warrant me being called a chef in your eyes, but my Chefs who have taken the time to train me may disagree with you. I am no longer working at Sharp's however I worked very everyday including Sundays (Joel) and yes they had pest problem but I did my best to take care of that situation which no offense was a problem I was unaware at the time i took the position. We all have a history in this fine city and I am sure that you have some baggage as well. But were not talking about you are we? Were talking about me and I think you should keep your opinions to yourself. As far as sexual harassment....That is a total lie and I challenge you to prove anything that you've said to tarnish my name. I will take this on the chin as I have nothing bad to say about anyone who works hard to achieve their goals. Even if you don't approve of my course sir. I would also say please tell me what you believe it takes to make a Chef a Chef....Just know I didn't write this article and took a position as exec. Chef and we cooked more than burgers......all of my staff and crew who worked very hard for me to make changes at Sharp's I appreciate your time and respect...
I am happy to know that people have so many nice things to say about me on this page, but I assure you the amt. of time I have put into what I do may not warrant me being called a chef in your eyes, but my Chefs who have taken the time to train me may disagree with you. I am no longer working at Sharp's however I worked very everyday including Sundays (Joel) and yes they had pest problem but I did my best to take care of that situation which no offense was a problem I was unaware at the time i took the position. We all have a history in this fine city and I am sure that you have some baggage as well. But were not talking about you are we? Were talking about me and I think you should keep your opinions to yourself. As far as sexual harassment....That is a total lie and I challenge you to prove anything that you've said to tarnish my name. I will take this on the chin as I have nothing bad to say about anyone who works hard to achieve their goals. Even if you don't approve of my course sir. I would also say please tell me what you believe it takes to make a Chef a Chef....Just know I didn't write this article and took a position as exec. Chef and we cooked more than burgers......all of my staff and crew who worked very hard for me to make changes at Sharp's I appreciate your time and respect...
YUMMMMMY.. Nothing screams delicious like a little Hepatitis with my meal! Tatoos for food handlers should be discouraged.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/In...
Tattoos have become cliche and lame...sort of like mullets and Pit Bulls. I am sort of like the Sneech without the star....Thank God I wasn't dumb enough to get a tatoo when I was young and stupid!
YUMMMMMY.. Nothing screams delicious like a little Hepatitis with my meal! Tatoos for food handlers should be discouraged. http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/21577 Tattoos have become cliche and lame...sort of like mullets and Pit Bulls. I am sort of like the Sneech without the star....Thank God I wasn't dumb enough to get a tatoo when I was young and stupid!
Chef's with ink, huh? Several of these "chefs" aren't really chefs. Like the dude with the "knuckle sandwich" and "blue collar" tattoos. Sorry sir, but flipping burgers at a bar and grill does not qualify you as a chef. Nope, you're just a line cook. Additionally, your quote about your "blue collar" tattoo separating you from the "white collar stiffs" is just stupid. Tons of white collar types have tattoos. Getting inked up is no longer edgy or shocking; damn near everybody under the age of 40 has at least one. It also reveals to everybody that you are an elitist douche. Wow, because you have a shitty $9.00 per hour job slinging greasy junk food at people you're somehow better than those of us who bothered to get an education and a professional job? Guess what, fella? We work hard, and we play hard too. We're not stiffs. P.S. take a damn shower and wash your hair. If your role is to serve people food, then have the common curtesy of practicing some basic personal hygiene.
O.K. back to the statement that some of the "chefs" portrayed in this segment aren't really chefs. How about the guy from Pizza Bella? You too are not a chef; you're a pizza boy. Wow! You're oven is heated with wood instead of natural gas! We're so impressed with that nugget of trendiness, but it still doesn't qualify you for chef status. Sorry pizza boy.
I'm getting bored with taking the wind out of these hipster doofus's sails, so I'll just say one more thing, and then be on my merry way. To the dirty kid who lost his razor and said something along the lines of, "I'm not just another guy in a black chef's coat": I hate to burst your little bubble of false uniquness, but that is exactly what you are. Just another guy in a black chef's coat. Not only tattoos no longer something out of the ordinary, but it is an activity that has been going on for thousands of years. Cooking too. People have been doing that since the dawn of time. Get over your self, take a shower, and shave that ridiculous shit off of your face.
Chef's with ink, huh? Several of these "chefs" aren't really chefs. Like the dude with the "knuckle sandwich" and "blue collar" tattoos. Sorry sir, but flipping burgers at a bar and grill does not qualify you as a chef. Nope, you're just a line cook. Additionally, your quote about your "blue collar" tattoo separating you from the "white collar stiffs" is just stupid. Tons of white collar types have tattoos. Getting inked up is no longer edgy or shocking; damn near everybody under the age of 40 has at least one. It also reveals to everybody that you are an elitist douche. Wow, because you have a shitty $9.00 per hour job slinging greasy junk food at people you're somehow better than those of us who bothered to get an education and a professional job? Guess what, fella? We work hard, and we play hard too. We're not stiffs. P.S. take a damn shower and wash your hair. If your role is to serve people food, then have the common curtesy of practicing some basic personal hygiene. O.K. back to the statement that some of the "chefs" portrayed in this segment aren't really chefs. How about the guy from Pizza Bella? You too are not a chef; you're a pizza boy. Wow! You're oven is heated with wood instead of natural gas! We're so impressed with that nugget of trendiness, but it still doesn't qualify you for chef status. Sorry pizza boy. I'm getting bored with taking the wind out of these hipster doofus's sails, so I'll just say one more thing, and then be on my merry way. To the dirty kid who lost his razor and said something along the lines of, "I'm not just another guy in a black chef's coat": I hate to burst your little bubble of false uniquness, but that is exactly what you are. Just another guy in a black chef's coat. Not only tattoos no longer something out of the ordinary, but it is an activity that has been going on for thousands of years. Cooking too. People have been doing that since the dawn of time. Get over your self, take a shower, and shave that ridiculous shit off of your face.
I am a chef & would love to show my tatoos of food...cup cake,8 primal cuts of beef & others
I am a chef & would love to show my tatoos of food...cup cake,8 primal cuts of beef & others
Chef Patrice is currently dancing around the rats and roaches that are running around her feet at Sharps, unless, miss tough girl had a sore tummy and called in sick......again.
Ha Ha.I cook for a living and I have tattoos. Not anywhere where your going destroy them with cuts and burns,but, I digress, I worked with so called Chef Patrice. Once, she wanted to file sexual harrasment charges against an overweight employee because his pants rode down and sometimes his buttcrack would peek out. Ha, Shes weak! I feel sorry for any black cooks that work for Patrice at Sharps. That is if she hasn't pulled a classic Patrice move and not showed up because she had to work on sunday.
Chef Patrice is currently dancing around the rats and roaches that are running around her feet at Sharps, unless, miss tough girl had a sore tummy and called in sick......again.
Ha Ha.I cook for a living and I have tattoos. Not anywhere where your going destroy them with cuts and burns,but, I digress, I worked with so called Chef Patrice. Once, she wanted to file sexual harrasment charges against an overweight employee because his pants rode down and sometimes his buttcrack would peek out. Ha, Shes weak! I feel sorry for any black cooks that work for Patrice at Sharps. That is if she hasn't pulled a classic Patrice move and not showed up because she had to work on sunday.
I am the proud wife of a tattooed Chef. He's got a bunch, and we're planning more. Me? Well, I'm a heavily tattooed Pediatric Nurse.
I am the proud wife of a tattooed Chef. He's got a bunch, and we're planning more. Me? Well, I'm a heavily tattooed Pediatric Nurse.
althogh I am all for free speech and freedom of expresion I still feel that the culinary field should remain professional and respectable in appearance as it is a service to the public
althogh I am all for free speech and freedom of expresion I still feel that the culinary field should remain professional and respectable in appearance as it is a service to the public
I'm all for personal expression, but tattoos can become a health issue. If your friendly neighborhood tattoo shop decides to cut a few corners there's a real risk of transmitting hepatitis or worse. I'm glad these chefs trust their tattoo shops, but I don't see why I should be required to have that same level of trust.
There are two local restaurants - Grinders, which is filthy anyway, and Sharp's - that I will never patronize again because they got all huffy when I requested a server without tattoos running up and down their arms. The snippy queen at Sharp's who passes for a maitre'd told me servers had the right to have tattoos, so I promptly replied that I had the right not to be assaulted by their "art" every time they refilled the coffee cups.
I'm all for personal expression, but tattoos can become a health issue. If your friendly neighborhood tattoo shop decides to cut a few corners there's a real risk of transmitting hepatitis or worse. I'm glad these chefs trust their tattoo shops, but I don't see why I should be required to have that same level of trust. There are two local restaurants - Grinders, which is filthy anyway, and Sharp's - that I will never patronize again because they got all huffy when I requested a server without tattoos running up and down their arms. The snippy queen at Sharp's who passes for a maitre'd told me servers had the right to have tattoos, so I promptly replied that I had the right not to be assaulted by their "art" every time they refilled the coffee cups.
"Rock a Tattoo" Who wrote this shit??? And to the person in the article who has SANDWICH written across their knuckles--I am still pissing myself laughing. You couldnt come up with anything more inventive than that?? You made my freakin day!!! Thanks!!
Well, I enjoyed the Article and Photos, these are all good people and good cooks. No one who committed to do this piece wants to or expected credit or to announced as being cooler than we all already. It's a nice local representation of some of kc's Cooks and Chefs. Calm down people, no one is trying to change opinions or make history here.
@JMG, that is Patrice I suggest you go down to Sharp's on 63rd and say that to her face. You will love the outcome.
@Rob- I do happen to believe that people with full sleeves, knuckle/hand tattoos, and neck tattoos are still people. I wouldn't dare judge someone based upon a tattoo. If I look at the population as a whole I would have to say there are more dumb, ignorant, and selfish people that don't have tattoos as compared to those that are tattooed. Tattoos do not classify you as "trashy" "stupid' or "reckless" the actions of people will decide that. Tattooing has been around for thousands of years as a way of expressing oneself, celebrating a milestone in life, or showing devotion to someone or something sometimes that person's god. As far as how people without tattoos must feel having to look at tattoos, I guess that would depend on the person. If a person were narrow minded, ignorant, self absorbed, or childish yes I am sure they have a negative impression of tattoos and tattooed people. Others might see tattoos as a way people choose to be rather than what they are told they should be. Either way it doesn't matter, tattoos aren't going away; they are getting more popular and much more elaborate than in years past.I suggest you evaluate who you looked up to as a child and truly ask yourself, if they had a tattoo that was visible would it all change in a heartbeat or would you reconsider your statement.
Rob- servers bring food. Chefs make it. If the chef is bringing your food out, it is a unique situation. And who gives a fuck if the person bringing the food OR the person making it has tattoos? You people are silly. Live and let live.
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