Cook (servant)
Encyclopedia
A cook is a household staff member responsible for food preparation. The term can refer to the head of kitchen
staff in a great house
or to the cook-housekeeper, a far less prestigious position involving more physical labour.
The cook in an English great house was traditionally female; today's residences may employ a head cook or chef
who may be of either gender.
The cook is responsible for the preparation of daily meals and menus, as well as menus for parties and other special occasions. The cook is also responsible for the ordering of food, the maintenance of the kitchen and for keeping accounts with local merchants. The holder of the position reports directly to the lady
of the house or sometimes to the housekeeper
.
The cook supervises all kitchen staff. In large households, especially at a noble
or royal court, this comprises an elaborate hierarchy, at the bottom of which come the kitchen boys (who, despite the name, were not always minors), in the largest households even further subdivided, perhaps the lowliest position being that of spitboy or turnbrooch, who had to remain close to the hot fire to turn the roasting meat; there were six at Hampton Court palace in Henry VIII
's reign.
There can be occasional staff conflicts over who supervises between staff
, who may have duties that bring them into the realms of the cook, the housekeeper and the butler.
In the hierarchy of domestic service, a cook usually earned her position through apprenticeship
, perhaps beginning in service as a kitchen maid
.
Today's cooks are likely to have spent years in domestic service in different households, or have gone to cooking school. Few modern families can afford retinues of servants, so the cook is often expected to be a cook-housekeeper and responsible for cleaning as well.
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
staff in a great house
Great house
A great house is a large and stately residence; the term encompasses different styles of dwelling in different countries. The name refers to the makeup of the household rather than to any particular architectural style...
or to the cook-housekeeper, a far less prestigious position involving more physical labour.
The cook in an English great house was traditionally female; today's residences may employ a head cook or chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
who may be of either gender.
The cook is responsible for the preparation of daily meals and menus, as well as menus for parties and other special occasions. The cook is also responsible for the ordering of food, the maintenance of the kitchen and for keeping accounts with local merchants. The holder of the position reports directly to the lady
Lady
The word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman...
of the house or sometimes to the housekeeper
Housekeeper (servant)
A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
.
The cook supervises all kitchen staff. In large households, especially at a noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
or royal court, this comprises an elaborate hierarchy, at the bottom of which come the kitchen boys (who, despite the name, were not always minors), in the largest households even further subdivided, perhaps the lowliest position being that of spitboy or turnbrooch, who had to remain close to the hot fire to turn the roasting meat; there were six at Hampton Court palace in Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
's reign.
There can be occasional staff conflicts over who supervises between staff
Between staff
The domestic workers in a great house whose work crosses between the areas of responsibility of the Butler, the Housekeeper and the Cook are known as between staff.These include:* between maids * hall boy...
, who may have duties that bring them into the realms of the cook, the housekeeper and the butler.
In the hierarchy of domestic service, a cook usually earned her position through apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
, perhaps beginning in service as a kitchen maid
Kitchen maid
-Great house kitchen maid:A kitchen maid is a young maid, or junior female servant. In the hierarchy of a great house she ranked below a cook and above a scullery maid...
.
Today's cooks are likely to have spent years in domestic service in different households, or have gone to cooking school. Few modern families can afford retinues of servants, so the cook is often expected to be a cook-housekeeper and responsible for cleaning as well.