The Kitchen hierachy

In this solo episode of Cheflife, host Lee Cooper takes a deep dive into the origins and evolution of kitchen hierarchy—from the rigid structure of Escoffier’s brigade system to the boundary-breaking kitchens of Ferran Adrià, Noma, and Asma Khan. With over two decades in the industry, Lee brings personal stories and hard-earned insight to explore how leadership, structure, and culture have changed in the modern kitchen. Whether you’re a line cook, head chef, or industry vet, this episode challenges you to rethink how your kitchen operates—and who it serves.