Who is in charge of the entire kitchen?
Chef de Cuisine (Head Chef)
The Head Chef will typically focus on managerial duties relating to the whole kitchen. For example, they supervise and manage staff, control costs and make purchases, and liaise with the restaurant manager and suppliers to create new menus.
Chef de Cuisine:
More commonly known as the head chef, the chef de cuisine is responsible for the overall management of the kitchen which involves supervising staff, creating menus and new recipes, controlling costs, training staff, and maintaining a sanitary and hygienic environment for food preparation.
Head Chef (aka Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine) -
The head chef generally controls the whole kitchen, from managing kitchen staff and controlling kitchen costs to liaising with suppliers and creating the menus.
Also known as a head chef or a master chef, an executive chef is the overall kitchen boss. This position is the pinnacle of any chef career. An executive chef doesn't spend all their time cooking but manages every operation in the kitchen. There is usually only one executive chef at any restaurant.
Being under the head chef in the chef levels in a kitchen means the sous chef is likely to have tasks and responsibilities delegated to them. When the head chef isn't present, daily tasks like stock control and management and ensuring the kitchen is cleaned in line with schedules will fall under the sous chef.
1. Executive Chef. The executive chef possesses the highest role in the kitchen staff hierarchy. Instead of preparing the food, this chef handles the managerial aspects of running the kitchen.
A Cook, or Line Cook, is responsible for preparing ingredients at an establishment that serves food, processing customer orders, producing meals and cleaning their workspace throughout the day to follow health and safety guidelines.
An executive chef oversees the daily operations of restaurant and hotel kitchens. This may include hiring, training, and overseeing kitchen staff, and ensuring a high-quality, cost-effective product. Also known a chef manager or head chef.
A head chef is a chef that has full control over the running of a restaurant's kitchen, while an executive chef is a chef who carries out the managerial tasks in a restaurant. A head chef is also known as an executive chef or chef de cuisine.
Dishwashers are the Backbone of the Kitchen.
What are the ranks in a kitchen?
Role | Alternative Position Title(s) |
---|---|
Executive Chef | Restaurateur CEO |
Chef de Cuisine | Executive Chef Grand Chef Chef Manager Head Chef Masterchef |
Sous Chef | Executive Sous Chef Chef's Assistant |
Line Cook | Chef de Partie Cook |
If a chef assumes that role without the proper skills, the whole ship can go down. There's good news, though: These skills are learnable. With the right resources (and some time and dedication), any chef can become a successful manager. Here's what you need to know.

Kitchen Manager responsibilities include supervising the food prep and cooking, maintaining a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and complying with safety and cleanliness standards. To be successful in this role, you should be able to manage our kitchen staff and guide them to deliver quality food on time.
Each person has their own position, station and set number of responsibilities in the kitchen. The chef de cuisine, or executive chef is in charge of the entire kitchen. This position is the highest rank in the kitchen hierarchy. The sous chef is the second in charge and often training to become a head chef.
Most restaurants in the U.S. use job titles that are straightforward and self-explanatory such as head chef, kitchen manager, server, hostess, bartender and fry cook. Large restaurants, particularly those that cater events, tend to have a wider range of restaurant staff positions.
A food service manager is the individual responsible for the day-to-day operations of the food service establishment.
The entire food set up for all buffets will be the responsibility of the Chef in charge of that respective Outlet. In the case of any banquet buffets, it will be the Executive Chef or Sous Chef, who will oversee the set up.
- Chef-Owner (Group Chef)
- Executive Chef (Chef de Cuisine, Head Chef)
- Sous Chef (Second Chef, Under Chef)
- Senior Chef (Chef de Partie, Station Chef)
- Pastry Chef (Patissier)
- Sauce Chef (Saucier, Saute Chef)
- Fish Chef (Poissonier)
- Vegetable Chef (Entremetier)
An Executive Chef is a highly skilled professional cook who oversees the operations of a restaurant or dining facility. They are responsible for the food that comes out of a kitchen, from conception to execution.
The head chef remains at the top of the hierarchy in restaurant kitchens without an executive chef. Like an executive chef, this person controls all aspects of the kitchen. They are responsible for creating menus, controlling kitchen costs, and managing the kitchen staff.
What is a chef also called?
Chef de cuisine
Other names include executive chef, chef manager, head chef, and master chef. This person is in charge of all activities related to the kitchen, which usually includes menu creation, management of kitchen staff, ordering and purchasing of inventory, controlling raw material costs and plating design.
Sous Chef, or Assistant Chef, is the right-hand to the Executive Chef. Sous Chefs manage a staff of assistant chefs, cooks and kitchen workers, as well as creating dishes for the menu. Senior Chef, formally called Chef de Partie, is assigned one particular menu specialty in which he or she excels.
- Lead, mentor, and manage culinary team.
- Develop and plan menus and daily specials.
- Create prep lists for kitchen crew.
- Manage food costing and inventory.
- Maintain standards for food storage, rotation, quality, and appearance.
- Ensure compliance with applicable health codes and regulations.
Kitchen Manager responsibilities include supervising the food prep and cooking, maintaining a fully-stocked kitchen inventory and complying with safety and cleanliness standards. To be successful in this role, you should be able to manage our kitchen staff and guide them to deliver quality food on time.
Responsible for clearing, collecting and returning food and beverage items to proper area. Maintain cleanliness of work areas, china, glass, etc. throughout the shift. Reviews order dockets ensuring accurate and timely preparations for order requirements accordingly.
Kitchen managers are in charge of the overall operations for the kitchen area of a restaurant. Also known as a kitchen supervisor, their goal is to ensure the kitchen department runs smoothly and complies with safety regulations.
Ensuring the food preparation areas are clean and hygienic. Washing utensils and dishes and making sure they are stored appropriately. Sorting, storing and distributing ingredients. Washing, peeling, chopping, cutting and cooking foodstuffs and helping to prepare salads and desserts.
A master or executive chef is the ultimate leader of a kitchen and its staff. His/her role is to ensure exceptional customer service, and that requires menu and recipe creation, staff hiring, training, and management, food ordering, order expediting, and improving workflow processes in the back of house.
Executive Chef responsibilities include:
Planning and directing food preparation and culinary activities. Modifying menus or create new ones that meet quality standards. Estimating food requirements and food/labor costs.
Contrary to common belief, the pilot does not take over command of the ship from the captain. The captain stays in command and is ultimately responsible for the ship. A pilot may assume the conduct of the ship, but only with permission of the master.
What is a captain responsible for?
The captain is responsible for every aspect of the voyage and vessel. They set course and speed, direct crew members, and ensure that proper procedures are followed, keeping logs and records of the ship's movements and cargo, and supervising the loading and unloading of cargo and passengers.
Traditional Title | Modern Alternatives |
---|---|
Chef, Chef de Cuisine | Kitchen manager |
Sous-Chef, Executive Sous Chef | none |
Chef de Partie | Section cook |
Entremetier | Vegetable station |
History of the kitchen brigade system
The kitchen brigade system was created in the 19th century by Georges-Auguste Escoffier, a chef who is responsible for revolutionizing French cuisine.