It must be one of the most misused French words that has migrated to the English language.

The word "chef" in French actually means "manager", "head", "boss", "guv'nor". So "chef de cuisine" simply means the manager of the kitchen, the cook in charge of the kitchen. The French word for someone who cooks food for a living, in a restaurant or hotel is "cuisinier" or "cuisinière" not "chef".