Netflix's 'Chef’s Table' is drawing flack after people pointed out that the show's new season on pastry features just one female pastry chef. Pastry is probably the only culinary category which is dominated by female chefs. Thus it seems highly unlikely that the show's producers needed to look for a female pastry chef with binoculars. There seems to be no plausible reason for overlooking numerous wonderful female pastry chefs across the globe.
Point to note: The fourth season of this popular documentary show features four chefs from across three continents
Serial Offender?
One tweet pointed out that men have consistently outnumbered women on 'Chef’s Table'.
Another person tweeted that the producers just couldn’t find a second female chef with a compelling narrative.
How is it possible that the show executives couldn’t find a second female pastry chef across three continents? Turns out that acing your skill is just not enough to be on television. You need to have a compelling narrative as well. I agree that documentaries are all about detailing hardships and struggles. So when it comes to food documentaries, it isn’t just about delicious looking food. (that’s all the kick we get from watching food network. The rest is in our head.)
Every woman, who has made her name in any field, has to struggle across millions of hurdles which men seldom face
Be it casual sexism, or patriarchal culture which allows people to belittle her achievements, a career driven woman definitely faces more social hurdles than a man. Similarly, female pastry chefs across the globe struggle against various social norms to follow their passion. Alas, that does not come across as an interesting narrative in a world ruled by men. Maybe that’s what the 'Chef’s Table' makers think. They are looking for stories with blood and sweat and physical struggles.
The definition of a compelling narrative differs from person to person. So if this is the reason for there just being one woman in 'Chef’s Table', then it simply says that the show makers don’t find women's struggle worthy of documentation.
Time to put the spotlight on female pastry chefs
The scene close home isn’t that great for women either. While chefs in general enjoy more popularity in today’s time courtesy food network and social media, our desi female pastry chefs are yet to find their place under spotlight.
There so many talented female pastry chefs in India. Kishi Arora, Pooja Dhingra, Sanjana Patel, Jeneva Talwar, Mandakini Gupta and many more are doing solid work. Yet, these women get conveniently sidelined from media coverage. These women are just solidly building their businesses and popularity one customer at a time. They have sweated it out as much as their male confrères.
It would be wonderful if media acknowledges their achievements, and showcases their talent on food networks, as much as they showcase the work of male pastry chefs
Professional culinary world is still dominated by male chefs, in both India and abroad. But pastry is that one rogue department, where more women are calling shots in professional kitchens than men. Thus, it would not hurt if networks sway a little from their structured scripts and choose to showcase more female chefs. This is the least these women deserve, considering their talent and mettle.
Picture credit: havasucityguide.com
Also Read : Catering to your sweet tooth: India’s Best Pastry Chefs
Yamini Pustake Bhalerao is a writer with the SheThePeople team, in the Opinions section. The views expressed are author’s own.
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