Chef’s kiss?

Reader question:

Please explain this sentence, particularly “chef’s kiss”: London has quickly turned into one of my favorite cities and the London restaurant scene is the chef’s kiss.

My comments:

The speaker, to paraphrase, thinks London is great, one of their favorite cities in the world. And what the speaker likes the most about London is its restaurants, which, to the speaker, are perfect.

To use another phrase that’s often on a chef’s lips: they’re the cream of the crop.

In other words, the best.

Now, chef’s kiss.

Literally, this is how a chef blows a kiss. And it is often seen at the end of a cook show: The chef, after having tasted his or her work, puts their fingertips to their lips, slowly kisses them before gently spreading them outward, and says: Mwa.

Or, with self-satisfaction written all over their face, they say: This is perfect.

Or: This is super.

Or: This is delicious.

Or simply: Hmmm.

Anyways, this is the chef’s way of saying: This is as good as a kiss.

Hence, and figuratively, “chef’s kiss” becomes synonymous with satisfaction and approval – giving approval, that is, to the best or a perfect job done.

In our example, the speaker likens London’s restaurant scene as the chef’s kiss. That is quite apt and appropriate, as, after all, restaurants are a great deal about chefs and their work in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, chef’s kisses abound, needless to say.

All right, here are media examples of “chef’s kiss”:

1. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Wednesday tore into Donald Trump’s claim that his administration’s group war chat fiasco is its “only glitch in two months.”

Trump has downplayed the accidental inclusion of The Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg in a top officials’ group chat about a planned strike in Yemen, dismissing it as overblown and insisting his presidency has been “perfect” so far.

“This is kind of emerging as his take on this scandal,” Maddow noted.

The anchor said it’s “astonishing” that no one has been fired over the blunder and that Trump is now framing the debacle as a “hoax” and a “witch hunt” against him.

Then, she pivoted:

“I will just say, between you and me, you have been alive for these past two months and you have experienced what the first two months of this Trump term have been like. Do you think that Trump is right, that it’s all been totally perfect?” she asked, giving a chef’s kiss gesture. “This has been the only glitch?”

Maddow then rattled off just some of the Trump 2.0-era controversies, from stock market tumbles over his tariff threats to legal battles over his immigration crackdowns.

- Rachel Maddow Has Chef’s Kiss Response To Donald Trump’s ‘Perfect’ Presidency Claim, HuffPost.com, March 27, 2025.

2. Emma, a four-part BBC television drama adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Emma, is available to watch on BBC iPlayer. The series was released in 2009 and stars Romola Garai as the titular Emma, while Jonny Lee Miller plays Mr George Knightley and the late Michael Gambon portrays Mr Woodhouse, Emma’s dad.

Released in 1815, Austen's novel tells the story of bright but meddling heroine Emma Woodhouse, who gets tangled up in matchmaking, particularly with her friend Harriet. It has been adapted for the screen many times, but many fans have said that the 2009 version is among the best.

Posting on Reddit, one viewer said: “I’ve brought this up before, but the little details are chef’s kiss! There was an interview where Romola takes some of her facial expressions from Alicia Silverstone's Cher. (I mean they do look a lot alike anyway). But just thinking Romola being Emma being Alicia Silverstone being Cher who is in essence Emma.”

“Emma 2009 is my favorite Jane Austen adaptation,” said someone else.

- ‘Masterpiece’ period drama with little details that are ‘chef’s kiss’ now streaming, Express.co.uk, December 18, 2025.

3. Imagine a scene in a bustling kitchen, where pots clank and aromas swirl. Amidst this culinary chaos, an Italian chef stands proudly before his masterpiece – a dish so exquisite that it elicits an instinctive reaction. He brings his fingers to his lips, kisses them lightly, and then dramatically gestures outward as if releasing the very essence of perfection into the air. This is the ‘chef’s kiss,’ a gesture that has transcended its culinary roots to become a universal symbol of excellence.

Originating from the Italian phrase “al bacio,” which translates to “as good as a kiss,” this expression embodies not just approval but sheer delight at something well-executed – be it food, fashion, or even art. When you see your friend donning an outfit that leaves you speechless or witness a breathtaking goal in football, it's only natural to respond with a heartfelt chef’s kiss.

But what makes this gesture resonate so deeply? Perhaps it's because it encapsulates our human desire for connection through shared experiences. We all know those moments when words fail us; instead, we resort to expressive actions like this one. The chef’s kiss serves as both praise and celebration – an acknowledgment that something is truly special.

Interestingly enough, while often used sincerely among friends and family (think about how you'd react after tasting your grandmother’s secret recipe), there’s also room for irony here. Picture someone attempting an elaborate dance move only to stumble awkwardly; you might find yourself rolling your eyes while still throwing out a sarcastic chef’s kiss just for fun!

In recent years, social media has propelled this charming gesture into pop culture stardom. Memes featuring characters like the Swedish Chef from The Muppet Show have made their rounds online since around 2010 – solidifying its place in contemporary vernacular.

So next time you're faced with something extraordinary – a perfectly baked brownie or perhaps an episode of your favorite show that hits all the right notes – don’t hesitate! Embrace that moment fully with your own rendition of the chef’s kiss.

- The Meaning Behind the Chef’s Kiss: A Gesture of Perfection, OreateAi.com, January 15, 2026.

本文仅代表作者本人观点，与本网立场无关。欢迎大家讨论学术问题，尊重他人，禁止人身攻击和发布一切违反国家现行法律法规的内容。

About the author:

Zhang Xin is Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn. He has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.

（作者：张欣）