chef
professional cook, especially in restaurants
A person whose job is to cook food, usually in a restaurant, often as the main person in the kitchen.
[someone] works as a chef at [a restaurant/place]
- After working in Paris for five years, she became head chef at a famous London restaurant.
- The hotel is looking for a new chef who can design a modern seasonal menu.
- As a private chef, he plans all the meals for one family and cooks in their home.
- Our chef trained in Italy, so the pasta dishes are especially good.
- The chef stepped out of the kitchen to greet the guests and explain the tasting menu.
- My brother is a chef at a small Italian restaurant.
- The chef cooked a special meal for us tonight.
- She wants to study and become a professional chef.
- The chef works long hours in the hot kitchen.
- We thanked the chef for the delicious food.
celebrity chef
1famous media personality chef
A chef who is famous and often appears on TV, in magazines, or online.
- The recipe was created by a well-known celebrity chef from New York.
- Many celebrity chefs now have their own cooking shows and restaurant chains.
chef de cuisine
1formal title for head of kitchen
A formal title for the chef who is in charge of a restaurant kitchen and its food.
- He was appointed chef de cuisine of the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant.
- As chef de cuisine, she controls the menu and leads the entire kitchen brigade.
chef's kiss
1showing something is perfectly done
An informal way to say that something is perfectly done or very, very good.
- That last scene was chef's kiss, absolutely perfect.
- The balance of flavors in this dish is chef's kiss.
executive chef
1highest-ranking managing chef
The top chef who is responsible for planning menus and managing several kitchens or the whole food team in a big place.
- The executive chef oversees all five restaurants in the hotel.
- As executive chef, he spends more time planning menus than cooking on the line.
head chef
1main chef in charge of kitchen
The chef who is the main boss of a kitchen and makes the big decisions about the food and the team.
- The head chef designs the menu and checks every plate before it leaves the kitchen.
- After ten years as a sous chef, she was finally promoted to head chef.
home chef
1serious, skilled home cook
A person who is not a professional but likes to cook and is good at cooking at home.
- Many home chefs now share their recipes on social media.
- This knife set is designed for both professionals and home chefs.
pastry chef
1chef specializing in desserts and pastries
A chef whose main job is to make cakes, desserts, and other sweet baked foods.
- The pastry chef spent all morning decorating the wedding cake.
- She worked as a pastry chef in a French bakery before opening her own shop.
private chef
1chef cooking for one person or family
A chef who works for one person or family and cooks just for them, usually in their home.
- They hired a private chef to prepare healthy meals during the week.
- As a private chef, she travels with the family on all their holidays.
sous chef
1second-in-command to the head chef
The chef who is number two in the kitchen and helps the head chef manage cooking and staff.
- The sous chef makes sure all stations are ready before service starts.
- When the head chef is away, the sous chef is in charge of the kitchen.