sous-chef

[ soo-shef; French soo-shef ]

noun

, plural sous-chefs [soo, -shefs, soo-, shef].

1. the second in command in a kitchen; the person ranking next after the head chef.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sous-chef¹

< French, equivalent to sous under (< Latin subtus (adv.) underneath, below) + chef chef

Example Sentences

She hands Prado a cutting board and tells her sous-chef to cut the tomatoes.

From Los Angeles Times

With the help of my sister, his reliable sous-chef, he cooks up beautiful, restaurant-quality food on a regular basis.

From Salon

Some inadequately drained veal brains become a rare source of drama, inspiring Michel, who prides himself on running a kitchen without “The Bear”-style histrionics, to gently admonish the sous-chef responsible.

From Los Angeles Times

In the hit TV show, the character Sydney Adamu, a Black unapologetically ambitious sous-chef, is attempting to help the show’s hunky, emotionally touchy male protagonist transform his dead brother’s sandwich shop into a Michelin-star restaurant.

From Los Angeles Times

Nestle and fluff the ingredients of this sous-chef salad with cooked and raw vegetables.

From New York Times