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
Cite this Entry
“Executive chef.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/executive%20chef. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.
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