Being a chef, especially one who is in the public eye is a huge amount of work. However, it can be a lot of fun too. After all, a chef has a job where he does something different every day, meets new people and is often able to travel to learn more about what he or she does. What could be better than that? If you’d like to see more about what the life of a chef is like from the inside, turn to Instagram and follow some of your favorite chefs. You may be surprised to learn more about their professional and even their personal lives.
A regular Instagrammer, the executive chef at the Hotel School of Lausanne, Julien Boutonnet knows that attractive photos are one of the best marketing tools for any chef. You’ll find some of the most glorious desserts on his Instagram, as well as incredible views of his experiences as an executive chef in a world renowned hospitality program. There is nothing more motivating to a young chef-in-training than seeing where all the hard work can take you. His Instagram tag is @boutonnet_julien.
One of the first chefs that many would-be chefs of today remember from their childhood is Emeril Lagasse. In the 1990’s and early 2000’s it was impossible to turn on your television without hearing his trademark “Bam!” He hasn’t lost any of his spirit or love of cuisine. If you’d like to see him in action, at the stove and traveling around the world, check out his Instagram account at @emeril.
Whether you have a sweet tooth or not, you for sure have heard, or at least seen a creation from Cedric Grolet. Full of colors and looking like sculptures, if you haven't tasted one yet (and even if you did), you can find all his works of art on his instagram @cedricgrolet. The Chef shares his professional work, what it means to be a world-renowned chef as well as a bit of his personal life.
Who doesn't like a loaf of bread? And croissants? What if we tell you that they don't have to be just tasty, they can be insta-worthy too! Chef Thomas Marie, Meilleur Ouvrier de France for Bakery, is a true inspiration for the bakery side of the kitchen and on his instagram @thomasmariemof, you can find his creation that never fail to surprise people that see them: I mean, how many forms of bread can there be?
Spending various year in different parts of Thailand for sure gave the Chef an experience on exotic dishes: full of colors and well-presented. In the last few years, Chef Gion Fetz has put his experience at the service of students as the former Executive Chef at EHL Passugg. You can find a mixture of his travels and his work in the kitchen on his instagram @gionfetz.
If you have heard of one chef in your life, it is probably him. You know, the one that has a restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. With his many restaurants, it is impossible for him to be in every kitchen at all times. His instagram is an interesting way for apprentices to see what life is like once you become a worldwide famous chef. You can see all the behind the scenes of his success @alainducasse.
One of the chefs you are sure to see if you turn on a modern cooking show is Anne Burrell. Her trademark platinum blonde hair might make you underestimate her in the kitchen. That would be a huge mistake. You’ll find her Instagram is a good mix of incredible chef motivation, a peek into what being a world-famous chef would be like and cute cat pictures—what could be better than that? Follow Anne at @chefanneburrell.
Anyone who enjoys a vegan lifestyle and wants to connect with other chefs on Instagram would do well to follow Charity Morgan (@chefcharitymorgan). She is one of the best-known proponents of cooking with plant-based ingredients. Even if you‘re not a vegan yourself, Ms. Morgan provides great inspiration on creating great meals that are designed for those who DO eat specialized diets. Plus, she always offers a glimpse of her own life and the exciting parts of being a chef.
One of the famed chefs who has spoken at EHL was Joël Robuchon. He was well-known for his passion for food and was excited to share it with the world through Instagram. You can still find his Instagram account If you follow his account you’ll be treated to delicious and attractive food photos plus a look at what life is really like inside the kitchen for a world-renowned chef. You can follow this, sadly departed, friend of EHL at @joel.robuchon.
A student favorite teaching butchering, catering and other skills at EHL, Fabien Pairon is also a popular chef on Instagram. The chef offers interested followers a look at his life, which includes teaching, cooking, and travel. His page is sure to inspire young chefs with what is possible with a little hard work. You can follow him at @fabienpairon.
As you can see, today Instagram is a great place to go for anyone who really wants to get a glimpse of what life is like behind the white jacket. While it can be easy to get sucked into social media, it is certainly worth it to spend a few minutes following some of your favorite chefs. The examples above are a great place to start. Social media can be a great networking tool too, as you grow in your career. As always, if you’d like to learn more about a career in hospitality, reach out to us at ehl.edu today. We look forward to helping you reach your goals!