Temperamental Executive Chefs: Are They Worth the Drama?

The short answer is no. While the Gordon Ramseys of the world make for great television, a drama king or queen is not the key to a restaurant’s success. That’s not to say that a chef should not have personality – a bit of charm and charisma can go a long way toward getting things done in the kitchen. But your chef’s task is to captain the ship while providing great food. And that requires being on an even keel.

Executive Chef skills that are worth holding out for:

Leadership. The Executive Chef sets the tone for the kitchen. They ensure that every dish is prepared with care, served promptly and presented well. They see to it that everyone in the back of the house is qualified, trained and on task and facilitate communication with the front of house. These chefs are coaches and mentors to their culinary team members, and their temperament with lower-level team members directly correlates to the level of mutual respect built in the kitchen.

Creativity. Your chef must be capable of developing dishes that will please your diners and make best use of available ingredients.  They must be able to think on their feet –  because things don’t always go as planned in the kitchen.

Time management skills.  Executive chefs must manage their time well and have a sense of urgency. Everything required for a successful service should be prepared ahead of time and they must know exactly how long it takes to prepare every component of each dish.  Chefs need to keep things moving and keep their subordinates on task as well. Restaurant patrons have little patience for delays.

Business acumen. Look for someone who understands the cost of running a kitchen. They must know how get the most out of their ingredients and how to use seasonal products to lower costs. They should have strong communication skills and the ability to hire and train personnel and delegate to them.

Your executive chef is one of your most important hires – perhaps your most important. Take the time to ensure that you choose a chef who has the skills you require and the ability to represent your restaurant well.

Take some of the stress out of hiring your next executive chef by partnering with Horizon Hospitality. We can recruit, screen and interview chefs for you, allowing you to select from the very best candidates available – nationwide.

If you are looking for executive chef recruiters, contact our experience recruiting team today.

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