executive chef
noun
plural executive chefs
: the head chef of a professional kitchen or of a group of professional kitchens
the restaurant's executive chef and owner
His résumé was filled with Connecticut restaurants …; at Le Coq Hardi Restaurant in Stamford, he was, variously, … first cook, sous chef, and finally executive chef.—
Michael Ruhlman
Michael RuhlmanBala Kumanan, a French-trained chef, oversees the quality of the food … as the executive chef of the high-end restaurants that span from Vancouver to Ottawa.—John French
compare chef de cuisine
John FrenchExamples of executive chef in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Spaghett took over the century-old Morrison House most recently occupied by Poplar with executive chef Kendall Moore and bar director Amanda Britton taking the lead.
—Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Il Premio, an Italian concept led by executive chef John Adamson, will be just what the doctor ordered after a long flight.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
Co-executive chef Lauren Krall Ivey helps bring those flavors to life and has also worked in renowned kitchens, notably in James Beard winner Ashley Christensen’s flagship Death and Taxes restaurant.
—Mary Lebus, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2025
Since opening the store last summer, Pot+Pan’s executive chef, Tara Cannaday, has reinvented the role of Willy Wonka, leaning into the power of whimsy to speak to customers who might not otherwise feel welcome in a more traditional dispensary setting.
—Oset Babür-Winter, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for executive chef
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Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 18 Dec. 2025
Il Premio, an Italian concept led by executive chef John Adamson, will be just what the doctor ordered after a long flight.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2025
Co-executive chef Lauren Krall Ivey helps bring those flavors to life and has also worked in renowned kitchens, notably in James Beard winner Ashley Christensen’s flagship Death and Taxes restaurant.
—Mary Lebus, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2025
Since opening the store last summer, Pot+Pan’s executive chef, Tara Cannaday, has reinvented the role of Willy Wonka, leaning into the power of whimsy to speak to customers who might not otherwise feel welcome in a more traditional dispensary setting.
—Oset Babür-Winter, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for executive chef
Cite this Entry
“Executive chef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20chef. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.
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