In 2020, the Unicode Consortium, the governing body responsible for overseeing the Unicode Standard — the international, character-encoding organization that standardized emoji — have added 230 new emojis. Among the new additions was a “chef’s kiss” emoji.
What is the Chef’s Kiss Emoji?
The chef’s kiss, known as mes chers in French, is an iconic gesture of approval an appreciation expressed between couriers, especially in culinary circles. To make the gesture, one presses the tips of their fingers to the side of their temple, then kisses the air. This internationally recognizable emoji expresses taste, contentment, and more.
Where Does the Expression Come From?
The chief’s kiss gesture is widely believed to have originated from the 19th century French chef and famous culinary figure, Auguste Escoffier. He was well known for his attention to detail and flair for creating sociable and creative food. He often expressed appreciation for his dishes, that he first tasted, with a hand gesture implying a kiss.
How Has the Expression Evolved?
The expression has been passed down through generations of chefs and cooks, and is now considered an industry standard, an accepted part of life in the kitchen. The gesture is typically used to express satisfaction in a job well done.
In more recent times, it has been adopted by non-food circles, extending its use to mark approval more generally in many aspects of life.
When Was the Chef Kiss Emoji Released?
The chef kiss emoji, affectionately known as the “mes chers” emoji, was officially released by the Unicode Consortium in April 2020, part of the 230-emoji package. The emoji was designed by the Italian type foundry, URW Design, who managed to perfectly capture the essence of the classic hand gesture.
The emoji appears as a smiling yellow face with raised hands and closed eyes, blowing a classic chef’s kiss gesture.
How to Use the Chef’s Kiss Emoji
The chef’s kiss emoji can be used to express approval or a job well done in a variety of ways. Here are a few ways of using it:
• After a recipe or dish post: Use the “mes chers” emoji to show your appreciation for your chef’s efforts.
• After a well-crafted joke: Use the chef’s kiss emoji to show that you enjoyed the gag and approve of the punchline.
• After completing a project: Celebrate your hard work by throwing a chef’s kiss emoji to appreciate the effort you put in.
• After giving a compliment: Use the new “mes chers” emoji to make your compliment particularly special.
• After a big announcement: Add a burst of flavor to any big announcement with the chef’s kiss emoji.
• After a heartfelt message: Show your loved one that you genuinely appreciate their words with the “mes chers” emoji.
What Do the Different Platforms Display?
Unlike some emojis in the Unicode Consortium catalog, the chef’s kiss emoji is supported uniformly across all platforms.
• On Windows, iOS, and Android, the emoji displays a standard yellow face with a classic blow kiss gesture.
• On Facebook, the emoji displays a slightly different yellow face, winking and holding its two hands together,
• On Twitter, the emoji shows an orange face with a simplified gesture, as its arms appear to be folded.
The chef’s kiss emoji, colloquially known as the “mes chers” emoji, is the most recent addition to Unicode’s emoji library. The emoji was designed to capture the classic hand gesture of approval and appreciation that is used between couriers, especially in culinary circles. Nowadays, it’s become so widespread that it’s used to show approval in many aspects of life. It appears as a happy yellow face with raised hands, blowing a romantic kiss. All platforms uniformly support the emoji, though the visual expression may vary slightly from one platform to the next. With its unique charm, it’s certain to be a well-used addition to the emoji library for many years to come.
