Review: Chef Smurf #20831

Back in 1978, Schleich released their first Chef Smurf. It was and continues to be extremely popular amongst collectors. I wonder why it has taken until 2021 to release a new variant of a Chef?

There is always an interest when a new Smurf variant is released. If you are like me, you probably could not wait to compare the two Chef Smurfs. However, today I am not going to do this. I will leave that for others.

Wearing a white apron and Chef’s hat, the Smurf is taste-tasting the contents in his spoon. The Smurf is showing his approval by pinching his fingers and thumb together. Some call this the Chef’s kiss.

As cute as this Smurf is, in my opinion Schleich could have added more colour to this Smurf. For example, by adding some colour to the apron or to the spoon to represent ingredients he is cooking. A bit of red for tomatoes or yellow for egg yolks.

In summing up, Chef Smurf must be doing something right for Schleich because it’s on their homepage. I find this surprising, one would have thought they would shown one of the new 2022 Smurfs.

Thanks for reading my review on Chef Smurf #20831! What do you think of Chef Smurf, do you like or dislike it?

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

2021 Smurfs revealed

Photos shared online this week has given us the first look at the 2021 Smurfs. Up until now all we knew was that there would be six new Smurfs with a classic theme. There has been a mixed response from those online which is not surprising.

So far Schleich has announced that the new Smurfs will be available from July 2021. Good news, online stores like Toydreamer will have them. Wow! http://toydreamer.com.au/search1.asp?searchword=2021+sm&toytype=searching

My thoughts

I am always aware that Smurfs in my collection were not created to be items of display that they have been for me. They were created for children to play with. Though it is disappointing to see Good Luck Smurf looks like Smurf with Sign #20823 from 2020, but I will be still keen to purchase them all. In short, I can’t wait to get my hands on them!

In conclusion, it really doesn’t matter what others think of the 2021 Smurfs but what do you think?

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Chef Smurf

When I rediscovered the smurfs back in 2001, it was like meeting up with old friends who I had not seen for years. Memories of playing with my smurfs when I was child started to come back. Smurfs like Chef, Hiker, Emperor, Painter are just few to name.

Chef Smurf was released in Australia around 1980. Wearing his Chef’s whites and hat while holding a wooden spoon up to his mouth to taste his latest creation. On his left hand his thumb and index finger are connected into a circle to show his approval.

I don’t think Chef Smurf was released into the USA until 1981 so this why you can find them with just Hong Kong markings and no reference to Wallace Berrie. Like on many of the moulds made before 1980, in Hong Kong they changed the year to 1980. No idea why they did this – very strange!

#20042 Chef Smurf with red sauce on his spoon

The Hong Kong Chef Smurf was the one I would have had as a child

This smurf was first made in 1978 and was sold with red sauce on the spoon. Initially I was a little sceptical about this one being genuine as I had never seen it like this. All my Chef Smurfs were made out of Hong Kong and had dark brown spoons with no sauce on it. I wish they had continued with adding the sauce on the spoon as I think it is rather cute.

The popularity of Chef Smurf has seen it made in other countries than Germany and Hong Kong. A version was made by Hering in Brazil and Minimodels in Argentina. There are also many counterfeit Chef Smurfs out there, from the very beautiful CNT’s with a yellow spoon to skin coloured fake Polish ones.

The last time Schleich released Chef Smurf was part of the 1970 to 1979 Decade Display Box Set sold in 2011. Celebrating 50 years of the smurfs, Schleich produced five decade display box sets, one box set edition for each decade. I am glad to see that they included Chef Smurf as part of this celebration!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B