20 Photos Of Chefs From The Past (1900s-1990s)
- - - 20 Photos Of Chefs From The Past (1900s-1990s)
Patrick Nichols July 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Two chefs in striped aprons work in a kitchen; one focuses on preparing food while the other holds up a long strip of pasta dough, stretching it wide with both hands. Shelves and kitchen equipment are visible in the background.
Last on July 7, 2025 by Matt Staff
From bustling restaurant kitchens to quiet moments between services, each photo reflects the pride, precision, and personality that defined the cooks of the past. Whether you’re drawn to the history of food or simply curious about how chefs once lived and worked, these glimpses into culinary life are a reminder of where today’s food culture truly began. Here are 20 photos of chefs from the past.
1. Anthony Bourdain and his co-chefs in Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1970s
cfedericnd/via reddit.com2. Hector Boiardi, or Chef Boyardee, in 1940
insightful23blue/via reddit.com3. Sophia Loren, author of 3 major cookbooks, 1950s
peepingloony/via reddit.com4. Cooks preparing to cook in front of an entire arena, 1990s
l0st_in_the_stars/via reddit.com5. Chefs in training, 1930s
wvwestwv/via reddit.com6. Gordon Ramsay being trained by Marco Pierre White, 1980s
ichzarealhiler/via reddit.com7. President Lyndon Johnson’s personal chef, Zephyr Wright, in one of the White House kitchens, 1961
userdeleted/via reddit.com8. Working as a chef for A L’Italia Airlines in JFK airport, 1975
nellacoll0427/via reddit.com9. Marco Pierre White and Gordon Ramsey at Harvey’s restaurant, 1980s
djf47021/via reddit.com10. Anthony Bourdain and his kitchen staff in the late ’90s
l0st_in_the_stars/via reddit.com11. Chefs loading cakes onto an airplane for the passengers, 1938
dirtythunder/via reddit.com12. Preparing to make the world’s largest omelette, 1931
brainstain101/via reddit.com13. Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, at their restaurant City Café, 1981
thatladyeve/via reddit.com14. Chefs at the Berkeley Hotel, showing off their six-foot Christmas pudding, 1920s
dhorlin/via reddit.com15. The chefs of Sherry’s Restaurant at luncheon, 1902
axlcobainvedder/via reddit.com16. Chefs preparing and serving dishes in Robatayaki, one of five restaurants located in the Las Vegas Hilton’s Benihana Village, 1970s
axlcobainvedder/via reddit.com17. Filling pies, 1950s
dhorlin/via reddit.com18. Chefs in the Fini Restaurant in Modena, Italy, 1978
axlcobainvedder/via reddit.com19. Chefs perfecting Campbell’s soup in Camden, NJ, 1935
axlcobainvedder/via reddit.com20. Chefs from Los Angeles prepare a 100-foot sushi roll in Weller Court, Little Tokyo, 1981
axlcobainvedder/via reddit.comWant to see more content from the 20th century?
Check out 20 Vintage Army Photos From The Past (1930s-1980s), or take a look at 20 Vintage Photos Of What School Looked Like In The 1930s. Finally, if you want to see photos of London in the 1900s, check out 19 Vintage Photos Of London (1920s-1970s).
Source: AOL Lifestyle
