02122016_06.mp3

Foodies love good presentation.

But the ingredients at high end eateries can get a little ridiculous.

That's maybe why Chef Jacques La Merde (don't translate that name from French to English) rocketed to fame. He photographs meticulously plated dishes with ingredients you'd find at Noma , and a truck-stop. Think Hostess cupcakes paired with fancy moss.

In a year or so, his Instagram account amassed more than 100,000 followers — 123,000 at last check.

WHOA ARRIVED AT WERK 2DAY AND IT SMELLED SO BAD I WUZ ACTUALLY CONVINCED JOSE WAS BACK EATIN DAIRY. TURNS OUT I WUZ WAY OFF AND THERES THIS THING CALLED A "GREASE TRAP" UNDER THE SINK AND U KNO WUT ELSE IS SOMETIMES U HAVE TO EMPTY IT!!!!! DID U GUYS KNO ABOUT THIS?!!! WOW ITS LIKE EVERY DAY IS GREAT B/C I LEARN SUMTHIN NEW!!!! THINGS GOT A BIT MESSY BUT WE'RE COMIN OUT THE OTHER SIDE NOW AND AFTER A SILKWOOD SHOWER WE R GOIN 2 BE READY TO CRUSH SERVICE!!!! SPEC 2NITE FT. M&M MEATS FROZEN SAUSAGE ROLLS ON A SOIGNÉ SEA OF FRENCHS YELLOW MUSTARD W/ CHEEZE BITS, BICKS RELISH AND OF CRSE FLAVOR ENHANCIN SAGE BITS!!!! ONE SWEET POTATO CHIP FOR TEXTURAL INTERPLAYYYYY!!! #whoknew? #soigné #theartofplating #fourmagazine #cheflife #cheezebits #lactoseintoleranceisactuallynotfunny #sausageparty #tweezers #negativespace #josebetternotuseupallthehotwater #silkwoodshowerFTW

A photo posted by @chefjacqueslamerde on

Most fans were in on the joke, knowing that Chef Jacque La Merde was a parody. But many were surprised the person behind it was a women: Chef Christine Flynn. She works at IQ Food Company in Toronto.

And her alter-ego hits the perfect comic pitch. "I think I created my own category," she says. "I like to call it, 'benevolent satire.' You read it and you laugh, but it's not at the expense of anyone."

Simply put. The account it fun. It's not mean. 

"My mother really likes that element of it," she says. 

#tbt TO LAST VALENTINES BROS, WHEN I MADE THIS DESSERT SPEC FT. HOSTESS CUPCAKE, DUNKAROOS, NIBS AND FANCY MOSS!!! JUST A REMINDER THAT THIS YR IM SPENDIN THE MOST ROMANTICAL NITE OF THE YR COOKIN W/ @therealtonybacon AT MILE END DELI!!! THERE WILL BE MINI @blackseedbagels BITES, DEEP FRIED PICKLES AND SMOKED MEAT!!!! FOR REZ CALL 646.494.9508!!!! YASSSS!!!! #soigné #mileenddeli #blackseedbagels #theartofplating #fourmagazine #chefsofig #cheflife #notapopup #itsaonenightstand

A photo posted by @chefjacqueslamerde on

La Merde is an Instagram star. But Flynn has a good perspective about it.

"It's difficult to wrap my head around it," she says. "But having a lot of followers on Instagram is a bit like being rich in Monopoly. Like, it really doesn't mean anything. I'm just happy I got a chance to make people laugh." 

GUYS I 4GOT 2 TAKE A PIC OF MY COURSE BECUZ I HAD TOO MANY NEBRONIS AND KIND OF GOT LOST IN @mscelfos EYES!!!! YO BUT THIS IS @chef_craig'S DESSERT CRSE!!!! ANGEL FOOD CAKE WITH POP ROCKS AND THEN ALSO SOME LEMON TYPE DEAL!!!! #soigné #pastrychefsofig #merdeonthemove

A photo posted by @chefjacqueslamerde on

Much of it comes from her captions. While Chef La Merde is a bro-tastic dude, he also has a heart. He has to deal with stuff chefs have to deal with, like slicing a finger on a mandolin. 

Flynn says it mirrors her own life. "There's no shortage of material in kitchens."

THAT CRUNCH THO!!!!! SLO MOTION MORE LIKE BRO MOTION!!!!!

A video posted by @chefjacqueslamerde on

From PRI's The World ©2015 Public Radio International