what is a chef

A chef is a professional cook who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation and often focuses on a particular cuisine. The term "chef" is derived from the French term "chef de cuisine," which means the director or head of a kitchen. Chefs can receive formal training from culinary institutions or through apprenticeships with experienced chefs. They are responsible for overseeing the daily food preparation at restaurants and other food service establishments. Chefs often occupy managerial roles, such as executive chef, chef de cuisine, or other chef roles, and are expected to manage the kitchen, create menus, supervise and mentor the kitchen staff, and ensure the quality of the food that comes out of the kitchen. They may also be involved in the business side of the kitchen, including operations, cost management, and managing multiple locations. Chefs typically have a higher degree of responsibility than cooks and must be leaders as well as culinary experts. They may have attended formal culinary school or gained extensive experience in the industry to earn the title of chef. The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks was $56,520 in May 2022, and the employment of chefs and head cooks is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.