A chef is not an artist but a craftsman. This of course applies to both male and female chefs. Do not call us craftspeople - this PC expression implies we are mindlessly weaving baskets in some socialist’s utopia. We as craftsmen are always hyper focused on the project at hand. You could even call us artisans. An artisan is by definition a person who is skilled at a trade or craft, usually done by hand and in a traditional manner. Sound like a chef.
A true artisan not only takes an immense deal of pride in what he produces but can often wax eloquently on the process itself. This is one of the reasons why farmers markets can be so enjoyable, yet not all farmers are artisans. I have found that the more specialized a farmer is the more passionate he is about their product, making them the artisans of their industry. Our Fernandina Beach, Florida Farmer’s Market place displays many examples of this theory. Many stands sell produce and offer a large variety of items year round. The downside of this variety is they are co-ops and are not necessarily selling what they grow themselves. That doesn’t stop me from purchasing their different varieties produce but it’s the stuff they grow themselves that really keeps things exciting.