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

Sugar and Scribe owner and executive chef Maeve, whose mother was born in Sligo, Ireland, learned how to bake the classic bread at just three-years-old from her grandmother Kate. —Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026

Zasso, whose brother Marcello is the chef at Locanda Ischia in Willow Glen, was executive chef at a five-star hotel in Sardinia before immigrating. —Laura Ness, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026

Although Brennan died in 2018, her daughter and niece still run the place, along with its first female executive chef, Meg Bickford. —Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

Jasper Schneider is executive chef at both restaurants, and his global experience coupled with his background in seafood and fine dining (including time with chef Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin), is apparent in all of his food here. —Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for executive chef

• clef
• deaf
• ref