head chef
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head chef
The lead chef in a professional kitchen, responsible for creating the menu, managing the kitchen staff, and ensuring the quality of the dishes.
Der Chefkoch dieses Restaurants hat bereits drei Michelin-Sterne erhalten.
The head chef of this restaurant has already received three Michelin stars.
The word is built simply: it combines 'Chef' (manager, boss) and 'Koch' (cook). A Chefkoch is therefore literally the “boss of the cooks” in a kitchen.
Als Chefkoch leitet er ein Team von fünf Köchen.
As head chef, he leads a team of five cooks.
Careful: while in English, 'chef' often refers to any professional cook, 'der Chefkoch' in German specifically means the head chef. The general term for a cook is 'der Koch' (cook).
In diesem Restaurant arbeiten ein Chefkoch und vier weitere Köche.
One head chef and four other cooks work in this restaurant.
Common phrases include 'der Chefkoch empfiehlt' (the head chef recommends), which can appear on a menu, or saying that a head chef 'Sterne verliehen bekommt' (is awarded stars), e.g. Michelin stars.
Das Tagesgericht wird heute vom Chefkoch persönlich empfohlen.
Today's special is personally recommended by the head chef.
cook
'der Koch' and 'der Chefkoch' both have to do with preparing food. 'der Koch' is the general term for a man who cooks professionally or who is currently cooking in a kitchen. 'der Chefkoch' is the head chef in a professional kitchen. He is responsible for the team, the menu, and the quality. Learners may confuse the words because a head chef is also a cook. But not every cook is a head chef. If you are only talking about the activity, 'Koch' is enough; if you are talking about managing the kitchen, 'Chefkoch' is more precise.
Zum Testen der neuen Speisekarte kommt der Chefkoch heute früher ins Restaurant.
The head chef is coming to the restaurant earlier today to test the new menu.
Der Koch schneidet Gemüse und bereitet die Suppe vor.
The cook chops vegetables and prepares the soup.