The plate isn’t the only place where a chef can show off his or her personal style. While Mario Batali’s orange clogs and the faux-hawks of Top Chef certainly make an impression, tattoos seem to be the current favorite method for toques to express themselves. In fact, kitchens around the country are sporting more ink than a cell block at Rikers. Read below for an explanation of the tats belonging to one noted local toque.

The Chef

Patrick Quakenbush, chef of ZED 451, Chicago, IL

The tats: I have seven tattoos from various points in my life. Two [of them] – a tribal band with my son’s initials and a Toronto Maple Leaf – I got when I was doing restaurant openings in Melbourne and Toronto. My biggest and best tattoo is on my shoulder with my kids’ names and imagery that expresses how I feel about them. My tattoos are like reading a book – it tells a story of my life, where I have been, what I was doing. Each one has a very specific meaning, not just because it looks cool, but because it is a part of me forever! I don’t have any that just came off of a stencil sheet in a tattoo shop. Some people like to take pictures and keep scrap books – I like to get tattoos.

Ink insight: I think chefs are all cut from the same cloth. Very visual, artistic, cool, hip, intense and, alas, crazy – at least I am! Tattoos then, are just like garnishing your favorite dish – we are the dish!

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