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

Dinner is a multi-course affair, with executive chef Cody McGehee at the helm. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2026

Aiming to provide a full wellness experience, the hotel tasked its executive chef Fabrizio Zanetti with conceiving a healthy menu for the spa lounge and hotel restaurants. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026

Hayward will reunite with a fellow Lazy Betty alumnus in executive chef Austin Goetzman, according to a news release. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026

The first McDonald’s executive chef, René Arend, faced a chicken supply shortage as customers clamored for the new McNuggets. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive chef

• clef
• deaf
• ref