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

Bala 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

Examples of executive chef in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dr Pepper Chef Robert Cantu, area executive chef for Four Brothers at Omni La Mansión del Rio and Ostra at Mokara Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, is a traditionalist and loves Dr Pepper. — Aly Walansky, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026

The 70-seat spot will be led by executive chef Jake Tyler Brodsky, an Eleven Madison Park alum. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026

In February alone, the construction led to a $20,000 drop in business, Nazira Atme, executive chef/owner of Habibi Lebanon Bar & Grill told The Charlotte Observer in March. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

And the biggest news of all is that Monteverde’s rising-star executive chef, Bailey Sullivan, will head the kitchen. — John Kessler, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive chef

• clef
• deaf
• ref