A cook or chef — a person whose profession is preparing food.
彼は有名な寿司屋で長年働いている料理人だ。
He is a cook who has worked for years at a famous sushi restaurant.
優れた料理人は素材の扱いがとても上手だ。
A good cook handles ingredients very skillfully.
その料理人は地元の食材を使った創作料理で評判だ。
That chef is known for creative dishes using local ingredients.