--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My chefs don't apply for 'Top Chef'. They…" description: "\"My chefs don't apply for 'Top Chef'. They all know that there is no way. At the end of the process I look at the resumes of the last 25 options just to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/tom-colicchio-9792_apply_my-chefs-don-t-apply-for-top-chef-they-a_1313869.png" --- # My chefs don't apply for 'Top Chef'. They all know that… ![“My chefs don't apply for 'Top Chef'. They all know that there is no way. At the end of the process I look at the resumes of the last 25 options just to make sure they've never worked for me before.” quote by Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/tom-colicchio-9792_apply_my-chefs-don-t-apply-for-top-chef-they-a_1313869.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/tom-colicchio-9792_apply_my-chefs-don-t-apply-for-top-chef-they-a_1313869.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/888/tom-colicchio-9792_apply_my-chefs-don-t-apply-for-top-chef-they-a_1313869.png) > “My chefs don't apply for 'Top Chef'. They all know that there is no way. At the end of the process I look at the resumes of the last 25 options just to make sure they've never worked for me before.” [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He avoids hiring chefs from Top Chef, believing the show doesn’t reflect real kitchen skill. **In simple terms:** He distrusts Top Chef chefs. Key Takeaway Rethink hiring criteria. Themes career recruitment media bias Mood skeptical pragmatic Type industry opinion When to use this quote - restaurant hiring - chef training - talent scouting Key Concepts talent evaluation industry perception Questions to Reflect On - What alternative hiring methods work? - How to assess true culinary ability? A Different Perspective May overlook genuinely skilled contestants. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply/) [Apply Chef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apply-chef-4355967/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Chef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chef/) [Chef Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chef-know-707038/) [Chefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chefs/) [Chefs Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chefs-don-1120893/) [End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Options](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/options/) [Process](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/process/) [Sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure/) [Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/top/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worked/) ## Related quotes > [Chefs don't become chefs just to earn stars - that's not the goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-ducasse/chefs-don-t-become-chefs-just-to-earn-stars-that-s-not-the-goal/) [Alain Ducasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-ducasse/) > [A lot of chefs don't have a natural sense of economy. I was with one guy the other day, and I had to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boulud/a-lot-of-chefs-don-t-have-a-natural-sense-of-economy-i-was-with-one/) [Daniel Boulud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boulud/) > [Chefs don't have a union. We don't have a Screen Actor's Guild.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-choi/chefs-don-t-have-a-union-we-don-t-have-a-screen-actor-s-guild/) [Roy Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-choi/) > [In an Indian kitchen, the focus is on getting the job or dish done right in whatever way possible; however, in a French kitchen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manish-dayal/in-an-indian-kitchen-the-focus-is-on-getting-the-job-or-dish-done/) [Manish Dayal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manish-dayal/) > [Every chef I know, their cholesterol is through the roof. 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You're a chef when you're running a kitchen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-call-all-chefs-cooks-they-re-all-cooks-that-s-what-we-do-we-cook/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Sometimes these challenges naturally select more chefs that can think on their feet very quickly. There are chefs I know who won't put things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/sometimes-these-challenges-naturally-select-more-chefs-that-can-think/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Many of them have accomplished a lot before they ever get to 'Top Chef' although they're not well known. The show just provides them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/many-of-them-have-accomplished-a-lot-before-they-ever-get-to-top-chef/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Too often, chefs just want to experiment - they want to use liquid nitrogen before they know how to use heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/too-often-chefs-just-want-to-experiment-they-want-to-use-liquid/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I remember in the first season going, 'This is retarded. I can't believe they're making chefs do this.' But then it actually does show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-remember-in-the-first-season-going-this-is-retarded-i-can-t-believe/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [You look at most of these 'best chef' lists, and there are about nine male chefs and one woman chef. The problem is still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/you-look-at-most-of-these-best-chef-lists-and-there-are-about-nine/) [Dominique Crenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-crenn/) > [I take apart restaurant menus everywhere I go. I kind of tick off a lot of chefs in restaurants because I'll say, 'You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/montel-williams/i-take-apart-restaurant-menus-everywhere-i-go-i-kind-of-tick-off-a/) [Montel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/montel-williams/) > [“Fortunately, I knew the cardinal rule of getting on with one’s fellow cooks. It applies in any kitchen and can be summed up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-p-pin/fortunately-i-knew-the-cardinal-rule-of-getting-on-with-one-s-fellow/) [Jacques Pépin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-p-pin/) ## More by Tom Colicchio > [I don't have a Facebook page and I don't think I will but Twitter for me is a way to take control of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-don-t-have-a-facebook-page-and-i-don-t-think-i-will-but-twitter-for/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I'd like to see 'Top Chef: Amateur'. Sometimes we have an amateur chef on the show and they just can't cut it against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-d-like-to-see-top-chef-amateur-sometimes-we-have-an-amateur-chef-on/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I remember in the first season going, 'This is retarded. I can't believe they're making chefs do this.' But then it actually does show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-remember-in-the-first-season-going-this-is-retarded-i-can-t-believe/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [A couple of months ago, I was down in Florida for the Food and Wine Festival. And this journalist grabbed me and said, 'How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/a-couple-of-months-ago-i-was-down-in-florida-for-the-food-and-wine/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Hunger is a political issue, and there are several things politically that are keeping people hungry - not funding food stamps adequately, not funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/hunger-is-a-political-issue-and-there-are-several-things-politically/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > ['Chef' doesn't mean that you're the best cook, it simply means 'boss.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/chef-doesn-t-mean-that-you-re-the-best-cook-it-simply-means-boss/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [If I'm doing an event, if it's a charity event, where it's a walk-around event, where I gotta put a thousand small plates out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/if-i-m-doing-an-event-if-it-s-a-charity-event-where-it-s-a-walk/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [There's a food revolution going on throughout the country. And it doesn't matter if you're down south, up north in Maine, if you're out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/there-s-a-food-revolution-going-on-throughout-the-country-and-it/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I think steak is the ultimate comfort food, and if you're going out for one, that isn't the time to scrimp on calories or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-think-steak-is-the-ultimate-comfort-food-and-if-you-re-going-out/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Most cooks try to learn by making dishes. Doesn't mean you can cook. It means you can make that dish. When you can cook…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/most-cooks-try-to-learn-by-making-dishes-doesn-t-mean-you-can-cook-it/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [You have to know the classics if you want to cook modern food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/you-have-to-know-the-classics-if-you-want-to-cook-modern-food/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Once you have your basics down, you can start breaking the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/once-you-have-your-basics-down-you-can-start-breaking-the-rules/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [We are not really privy to all that crazy stuff that goes on in the show. I go to work, eat, and talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/we-are-not-really-privy-to-all-that-crazy-stuff-that-goes-on-in-the/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [Too often, chefs just want to experiment - they want to use liquid nitrogen before they know how to use heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/too-often-chefs-just-want-to-experiment-they-want-to-use-liquid/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) > [I dont know too many parents that want to feed their kids soda, but high-fructose corn syrup is cheap. The price of soda in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-colicchio/i-dont-know-too-many-parents-that-want-to-feed-their-kids-soda-but/) [Tom Colicchio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) [Explore all 70 Tom Colicchio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-colicchio/) ## More Apply quotes > [Defeat furnishes good material to the poets and the artists, but none of us care to have the glory of the conquered apply to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/defeat-furnishes-good-material-to-the-poets-and-the-artists-but-none/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then...do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/apply-yourself-get-all-the-education-you-can-but-then-do-something/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. 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