7 Essentials Of An Executive Chef Career

An executive chef may also be known as the chef manager, and the person is responsible for the daily activities in their kitchen. For this reason, executive chef skills are leadership-oriented. An employer usually holds him or her to be in charge of the kitchen staff and to maintain complete control in a modern working atmosphere.

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Executive Chef Job Description: Analytical

Executive chefs may find employment in a range of settings. Some work in smaller boutique restaurants. Others may be employed in the largest industrial kitchens that have a number of different managers working in various levels. What remains the same is that a professional must exhibit executive chef job skills that allow them to quickly note any problems and ensure that the issues are quickly resolved. A clear head is essential, and a professional working in a hectic restaurant needs to effectively delegate tasks to subordinates.

Executive Chef Skills: Organization

Since the executive chef is responsible for maximizing the profitability and productivity of a particular establishment, they need to exhibit strong organizational skills. In the kitchen chain of command, the sous and pastry chefs are directly below the executive, so an executive must be able to communicate effectively while planning meals.

Communication

As an executive chef, a person is responsible for coordinating the duties of various personnel and must ensure that a kitchen works together in a harmonious fashion. The role of an executive chef is often as much managerial as it is creative cooking, and a prospective chef should like working with people on a daily basis.

Role Of An Executive Chef: Keeping A Sanitary Kitchen

In addition to making sure that open lines of communication are in place at all times, an executive chef sets the standard for the personal hygiene and work standards that are used in a particular establishment. Often, an executive has worked up a structure's hierarchy and may be familiar with a variety of roles in the kitchen.

Responsibility

Because the executive chef is responsible for the daily operations in a kitchen, he or she has a huge amount of duties. The professionals need to make sure that quality dishes are served on a timely basis and that any issues with meals are quickly rectified in a customer-oriented manner. The executive chef job description also includes responsibility for all prepared plates that leave the kitchen.

Creativity

When a restaurant is not open and serving diners, the executive chef job description includes planning menus and creating new food for guests. The chef may be expected to have superior cooking skills while performing the administrative duties that are essential for the job, like ordering supplies and reporting to the establishment's owner or general manager.

Rewarding Salaries

With plenty of opportunities to turn a career into a rewarding one, an executive chef can expect to be well compensated for their work. The professionals earn anywhere from $25,000 to $60,000 annually, and this depends on the geographic area where a person works and the number of years of experience in the industry. Photo Credit: Shutterstock