(Food-Beverage-News.Com, September 26, 2014 ) Oakland, CA -- The Finesseur kitchenware company, honoring many culinary experts and enthusiasts by conducting a survey last week, has released the results of their study to rule out if hand dominance—being left-handed or right-handed—has an effect on being a great chef.
For the study, the company slated 30 of the most renowned chefs in the industry, regardless of origin and specialization. Through videos showing how these experts handle their utensils while they cook, Finesseur is able to identify each chef's dominant cooking hand, and then conclude if hand dominance is actually a factor in climbing the ladder of fame.
Finesseur divided the chefs into three groups, ten in each. The first group includes Paula Deen, Anthony Bourdain, Rachael Ray, Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Robert William Flay, and Alton Brown. Among the ten, only Mr. Ramsay is left-handed.
The second group consists of Ina Garten, Giada de Laurentiis, Todd English, Tom Colicchio, Grant Achatz, Guy Fieri, Julia Child, Sandra Lee, Ming Tsai, and Thomas Keller. All these ten showed that they use their right hand in cooking and handling their knife.
Forming the third group are Nobu Matsuhisa, Rick Bayless, Stephanie Izard, Marcus Samuelsson, David Chang, Alex Guarnaschelli, Nigella Lawson, Heston Blumenthal, Pete Evans, and Alice Waters. As in the first group, this batch is also dominated by right-handers, with Mr. Blumenthal as the only lefty.
The results of the observational study show that the culinary industry is tipped to the right-handers' side. Out of the 30 chefs, only two—Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Blumenthal—are left-handers. However, looking at the fame status angle, both have created unique renown and have made television appearances and shows. Mr. Ramsay, in fact, is ranked among the best chefs worldwide, contending the top spot with right-handed Jamie Oliver.
Finesseur spokesperson Allison Montgomery commented that: "Considering the 10-1 statistics favoring right-handed people, it is not surprising that left-handed chefs are outnumbered." She added: "But the results also show that fame is determined by using neither the right nor the left hand. Each variable is represented by a very famous chef—Oliver for righties, Ramsay for lefties. Both always appear in the top three in every list there is today."
Concluding her stand on the subject, Ms. Montgomery finished: "I believe hand dominance is not a big factor for being the best chef. All these people, these 30 chefs, prove that passion and an adventurous culinary spirit, not the hand being used, that weigh heavily on whether a cook becomes an ordinary chef, or one who soars to supreme heights and ends up with a TV show, a book, a chain of restaurants, or even their own line of kitchen products."
The results of the chef survey done are available on Finesseur's Facebook page, as well as their website blog page.
About Finesseur
Finesseur brings fashion design, precise engineering, and top quality craftsmanship together in American kitchens. Finesseur believes kitchen tools should be not only functional, but also inspirational.