掌厨 literally means 'to hold (zhǎng) the kitchen (chú)' — it describes the role of being in charge of cooking, especially in a professional or household setting where one person manages meal preparation, menu planning, and kitchen operations. Unlike the simple verb 做饭 (to cook), 掌厨 emphasizes authority, responsibility, and expertise — it’s often used for head chefs, family matriarchs/patriarchs who consistently prepare meals, or anyone formally entrusted with culinary leadership.

This word carries a slightly formal or respectful tone and is common in both spoken and written Chinese when describing someone’s consistent, central role in cooking — not just occasional meal prep. It can appear as a verb ('他掌厨') or a noun ('他是我们家的掌厨'), though the verbal usage is more frequent. While not limited to restaurants, it’s rarely used for casual or one-off cooking — think of it as 'being the chief cook' rather than 'cooking dinner tonight'.