Chef de cuisine


Chef de cuisine or executive chef is the main chef in a restaurant. The chef de cuisine is in charge of all other functional chefs in the kitchen. This position is also known as grand chef, chef manager, head chef, or master chef. If the chef also owns the restaurant, the term chef patron is used.

Function

The chef de cuisine is in charge of all activities related to the kitchen, which usually includes creating menus, managing kitchen staff, ordering and purchasing stock and equipment, plating design, and ensuring that all meals served in the restaurant are both delicious and nutritious. Chef de cuisine is the traditional French term from which the English word chef is derived. Head chef is often used to designate someone with the same duties as an executive chef but, in larger restaurants there is usually someone in charge of a head chef who makes executive decisions such as the direction of the menu, has final authority regarding staff hiring and management decisions and sets the overall tone and style of the restaurant. This is often the case for executive chefs who are in charge of several restaurants.