What does an Executive Chef do?
Executive Chefs typically work for restaurants, but they can also work for catering businesses or private households. They use their culinary expertise and leadership abilities to maintain a clean and orderly kitchen environment. Their job is to promote food safety by teaching their staff about proper storage and shelf-life. They may also travel to meet with potential food suppliers and check the quality of their produce.
Executive Chef skills and qualifications
Executive Chefs use a variety of culinary skills and soft skills to lead kitchens and provide excellent meal service to patrons. These skills include:
- Expert knowledge of the restaurant or organization’s cuisine
- Advanced culinary skills including food preparation, flavor pairings and other cooking best practices
- Ability to develop unique recipes
- Current knowledge of trends in the restaurant industry
- In-depth knowledge of federal, state and local food handling regulations
- Comfortable training, directing and supervising kitchen staff
- Exceptional leadership skills, including motivation and goal-setting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Time management and organization
Executive Chef salary expectations
An Executive Chef makes an average of $66,177 per year. Salary may depend on a candidate’s level of experience, education and geographical location.
Executive Chef education and training
Most Executive Chef candidates have completed a professional certification, diploma or degree in culinary arts, culinary science or pastry arts from a culinary school or technical college. Other candidates have completed their education through specialized apprenticeship or training programs, often those that teach both the basics of culinary creation and of a specific cuisine or cooking style. In addition to education, many candidates earn a ServSafe certification that demonstrates their understanding of best practices and regulations for safe food handling practices.
Executive Chef experience requirements
Depending on your organization, facility or restaurant, the experience required for an Executive Chef may vary. For new, up-and-coming restaurants, an experienced Executive Chef with more than five years of kitchen leadership experience may be desirable. Those looking for new ideas or willing to train the right candidate may consider candidates with less experience in leadership but a few years working as a Sous Chef or other cooking professional. Restaurants in a specialized cuisine or cooking style would benefit from candidates with years of experience and/or training in that cuisine or style.
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