chef de cuisine

noun

chef de cui·​sine ˌshef-də-kwē-ˈzēn 

plural chefs de cuisine ˌshef(s)-də-kwē-ˈzēn 

: a chef who manages a professional kitchen

… chefs need chefs de cuisine to run their kitchens, from hiring and firing to choosing between chives and chervil as the garnish for a new dish. And some do a great deal more than that.

—Julia Moskin

And the titles change with each restaurant. The top chef might be called an executive chef or chef de cuisine. The second in command might also be known as chef de cuisine (if there's an executive chef) …

—Phil Vettel

Tony Bilson, who has had a succession of artistically successful but financially rocky restaurants in Sydney, has his name on the door, but Manu Feildel, the young chef de cuisine from France, does the day-to-day cooking, and he is good.

—Harvey Steiman

compare executive chef

Examples of chef de cuisine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Capolinea, the gorgeous high-floor Italian fine dining restaurant by executive chef Joe Graffeo and chef de cuisine Christopher Li. —Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025

The kitchen is headed by chef de cuisine Jackson Rouse, formerly of Bauer European Kitchen, Downtown. —Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Dec. 2025

Nicōsi, which opened its doors last June under the helm of executive chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and his chef de cuisine, Karla Espinosa, has been awarded its first Michelin star. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025

Peterson brings a wealth of experience to her new restaurant, including seven years as the chef de cuisine at The Phoenician's Mowry and Cotton. —Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "head of the kitchen"

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chef de cuisine

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