tournant

Intermediate 🍳 Food / Culinary

Definition

A swing cook who can work any station in the kitchen, filling in wherever needed. They're the utility players of the culinary world, skilled at everything but master of being flexible.

Example Usage

We hired Maria as a tournant because she can jump from garde manger to sauté to pastry without missing a beat.

Origin

French for 'turning' or 'rotating,' from the brigade system

Fun Fact

In classical French kitchens, the tournant position was often filled by the most experienced cook below the sous chef level.

Source: French brigade system kitchen organization

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