---
name: research-chef
description: Research a chef from a taxonomy YAML using 4 sequential agent teams (2 researchers + 1 synthesizer each) to produce a completed research profile
argument-hint: "[path to taxonomy YAML, e.g., docs/taxonomy/european-cuisine-taxonomy.yaml]"
---

# Research Chef

Research a culinary authority from a taxonomy YAML and produce a completed research profile using sequential agent teams.

## Arguments

- `$ARGUMENTS`: Path to a cuisine taxonomy YAML file.

If no argument is provided, print this usage and stop:

```
Usage: /research-chef [path-to-taxonomy-yaml]
Example: /research-chef docs/taxonomy/european-cuisine-taxonomy.yaml
```

## Reference Files

Read these before starting:

- Research template: @docs/tech-docs/reference/chef-research-template.md
- Design spec: @docs/plans/2026-03-20-research-chef-command-design.md

## Step 1: Claim a Cuisine

1. Read the taxonomy YAML at `$ARGUMENTS`
2. Parse the `cuisines` array. Find the **first** entry where `researchStatus` is empty/absent/null.
   - If none found → print "All cuisines in this taxonomy have been researched." and stop.
3. Extract from the claimed cuisine entry:
   - `name` (cuisine name, e.g., "British")
   - `culinaryAuthorities.primary.name` (chef to research, e.g., "Nigel Slater")
   - `culinaryAuthorities.primary.why` (why this chef matters)
   - `culinaryAuthorities.secondary` (if present)
   - `description` (cuisine description)
   - `regions` (all regions with signature dishes)
   - `marketNotes`
   - `notes`
4. **Immediately** write `researchStatus: in_progress` to this entry in the YAML file. Do this NOW before any research begins.
5. Derive the chef folder name: lowercase the chef name, replace spaces with hyphens, strip diacritics. Example: "Nigel Slater" → "nigel-slater"

## Step 2: Set Up Output

1. Create the output folder: `docs/chefs/origins/eu/{chef-folder-name}/`
2. Copy the research template to the output folder as `research.md`:
   ```
   cp docs/tech-docs/reference/chef-research-template.md docs/chefs/origins/eu/{chef-folder-name}/research.md
   ```

Store the full output path — every team will need it: `docs/chefs/origins/eu/{chef-folder-name}/research.md`

## Step 3: Run Teams

Run 4 teams sequentially. Each team is a set of **flat teammates** (researchers + synthesizer) all spawned by you (the team lead) using the Agent tool. DO NOT have any agent spawn sub-agents.

For every team:

- Spawn all teammates simultaneously in a single message with multiple Agent tool calls
- Give each a `team_name` so they can communicate via SendMessage
- Researchers use the **search-hub skill** (`/search-hub:search`) for multi-source web research
- Researchers SendMessage their findings to the Synthesizer when done
- **Watchdog timer**: After spawning researchers, actively monitor. If a researcher's searches have completed (background task notifications) but it hasn't gone idle with a `[to Synthesizer]` summary within ~5 minutes, ping it immediately. If it doesn't respond within 2 minutes after the ping, spawn a replacement researcher with the same instructions and tell the Synthesizer to expect one fewer message from the original.
- **Receipt verification**: After ALL researchers have gone idle with `[to Synthesizer]` summaries, immediately ask the Synthesizer: "How many researcher messages have you received? Which are missing?" If any are missing, forward the missing findings. Do NOT wait passively.
- The Synthesizer waits for all researchers, then reads the accumulated `research.md`, integrates new findings, and writes the updated sections to the file
- After the Synthesizer signals completion, move to the next team

### Shared Context for All Researchers

Include this in every researcher prompt:

```
CHEF: {chef full name}
CUISINE: {cuisine name}
CUISINE DESCRIPTION: {description from taxonomy}
REGIONS: {regions and signature dishes from taxonomy}
CULINARY AUTHORITY RATIONALE: {why from taxonomy}
MARKET NOTES: {marketNotes from taxonomy}
ADDITIONAL NOTES: {notes from taxonomy}

QUALITY BAR: Every factual claim must cite a source. Every quote must have attribution (speaker, source, date). Flag unverified claims with [UNVERIFIED]. For non-English subjects, provide BOTH original language and English translation for quotes.

Use the search-hub skill for multi-source research. Send your findings to the Synthesizer via SendMessage when done.
```

### Shared Context for All Synthesizers

Include this in every synthesizer prompt:

```
You are the Synthesizer for this research team. You will receive findings from {N} researchers via SendMessage.

OUTPUT FILE: {full path to research.md}

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. IMMEDIATELY read the current research.md file — do this NOW, before any researcher messages arrive. Familiarize yourself with the document structure, the sections you will write, and any content already written by prior teams. This pre-loading saves significant time when you begin synthesis.
2. Wait until you have received messages from all {N} researchers
3. For each section you own, replace the [Content] placeholders with the compiled research
4. Preserve ALL HTML comments (<!-- -->) — they are structural guides
5. Write the updated file
6. Send a message to the team lead confirming which sections you completed

QUALITY BAR: Every factual claim must cite a source. Every quote must have attribution. Flag unverified claims with [UNVERIFIED].
```

---

### Team 1 — Foundation

**Team name:** `research-foundation`
**Researchers:** 2 | **Synthesizer expects:** 2 messages

Spawn these 3 agents simultaneously:

**Researcher-Bio** (name: `ResearcherBio`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Section 1: Biographical Profile.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION INSTRUCTIONS: Research and report on:
- Birth date, birthplace, family background, childhood food memories
- Education, training, apprenticeships, mentors
- Career timeline (chronological table of all major positions, publications, shows, awards)
- Major publications and media (table with title, year, significance)
- Formative turning points: 3-5 specific moments (year, place, what shifted) written narratively with quotes
- Expertise inventory: 5-7 specific domains of mastery
- Current mission statement in their own words

This is the heaviest section — do 3-4 searches to build comprehensive coverage.
Target: 500-800 words of findings. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Researcher-PhilLeg** (name: `ResearcherPhilLeg`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Section 2: Culinary Philosophy AND Section 15: Legacy and Cultural Impact.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION 2 INSTRUCTIONS (Culinary Philosophy): Research and report on:
- Core principles: 2-4 fundamental beliefs with supporting quotes
- What they champion: 5-8 specific values/practices they advocate (with sources)
- What they reject: 7-10 specific practices/trends/misconceptions they oppose (with quotes and citations) — must be culturally specific, not generic
- Teaching approach: primary medium, philosophy on learning, what they expect from students

SECTION 15 INSTRUCTIONS (Legacy and Cultural Impact): Research and report on:
- Institutional legacy: foundations, schools, awards, programs
- Influence on other chefs: specific people mentored or inspired
- Cultural impact: how they changed public attitudes toward food or their cuisine
- Comparisons and context: how they compare to contemporaries
- Media presence: YouTube, social media, TV, podcasts, documentaries (platforms, follower counts, content type)

These sections naturally overlap — philosophy drives legacy. Do 3-4 searches covering both.
Target: 600-900 words of findings across both sections. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Synthesizer** (name: `Synthesizer`)

```
{shared synthesizer context with N=2}

SECTIONS TO WRITE: S1 (Biographical Profile), S2 (Culinary Philosophy), S15 (Legacy and Cultural Impact)
```

**After Team 1 completes:** Verify `research.md` has S1, S2, S15 filled in. Then proceed.

---

### Team 2 — Voice & Character

**Team name:** `research-voice`
**Researchers:** 2 | **Synthesizer expects:** 2 messages

Spawn these 3 agents simultaneously:

**Researcher-CharAnec** (name: `ResearcherCharAnec`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Section 3: Personality and Temperament AND Section 6: Key Anecdotes.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION 3 INSTRUCTIONS (Personality and Temperament): Research and report on:
- Self-described traits (direct quotes)
- As described by others (colleagues, journalists, friends — with sources)
- Teaching and mentoring style (anecdotes)
- Social presence (how they carry themselves publicly)
- Emotional triggers: 5-7 documented instances of visible warmth, anger, passion, humor (format: [Emotion] when [trigger] — Source: [citation])
- Archetype evidence: propose 2-3 archetype labels (2-4 words each) with evidence and rationale

SECTION 6 INSTRUCTIONS (Key Anecdotes): Collect 4-6 anecdotes. Each must include:
- Situation, response/reaction, what it reveals
- Tagged with behavioral scenario(s): [SEASON] [TECHNIQUE] [SHORTCUT] [QUALITY] [DIETARY] [SCOPE]
- After collecting, create a Scenario Evidence Summary table showing which scenarios have evidence and which have gaps.

These sections are deeply related — personality IS revealed through anecdotes. Do 3-4 searches focusing on interviews, profiles, and talks.
Target: 600-900 words of findings across both sections. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Researcher-VoiceQuot** (name: `ResearcherVoiceQuot`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Section 4: Writing Style and Voice Analysis AND Section 5: Quotes Collection.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION 4 INSTRUCTIONS (Writing Style and Voice Analysis): Research and report on:
- Characteristic tone (warm, authoritative, poetic, etc. — with examples)
- Vocabulary and register (technical vs accessible, recurring words)
- Sentence structure and rhythm
- Signature phrases: extract 10-15 ACTUAL recurring phrases with context/source
- Forbidden language: 3-5 terms that would break this persona's authenticity (persona-specific, not generic AI words)
- Tone calibration: estimate position on 4 dimensions (Formal-Casual, Serious-Funny, Respectful-Irreverent, Enthusiastic-Matter-of-fact) with evidence
- Opening pattern analysis: how they begin recipes/chapters (analyze 3-5 openings)
- Rhetorical patterns: 5-7 named patterns with descriptions and examples
- Story types: 2-3 dominant story types they tell

SECTION 5 INSTRUCTIONS (Quotes Collection): Collect 15-25 verbatim quotes organized by these MANDATORY categories:
- On food philosophy and core beliefs [tag: Core Drive or Pain Point]
- On their cuisine's identity [tag: Cultural Identity or Signature Phrase]
- On teaching and passing knowledge [tag: Teaching]
- On what they oppose [tag: Pain Point]
- On ingredients and technique [tag: Signature Phrase or Few-Shot source]
- On personal journey and identity [tag: Emotional Range or Core Drive]
- Humor and warmth (optional) [tag: Emotional Range]

For non-English subjects: provide BOTH original language and English translation.
Every quote MUST have attribution (speaker, source, date).

These sections are deeply related — you can't analyze voice without finding quotes, and quotes reveal style. Do 3-4 searches focusing on book excerpts, columns, and interviews.
Target: 700-1000 words of findings across both sections. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Synthesizer** (name: `Synthesizer`)

```
{shared synthesizer context with N=2}

SECTIONS TO WRITE: S3 (Personality and Temperament), S4 (Writing Style and Voice Analysis), S5 (Quotes Collection), S6 (Key Anecdotes)

IMPORTANT: Cross-reference findings with the existing S1, S2, S15 content already in the file. Tag quotes with the persona sections they feed.
```

**After Team 2 completes:** Verify `research.md` has S3-S6 filled in. Then proceed.

---

### Team 3 — Visual & Cultural

**Team name:** `research-visual`
**Researchers:** 2 | **Synthesizer expects:** 2 messages

Spawn these 3 agents simultaneously:

**Researcher-Visual** (name: `ResearcherVisual`)

```
You are researching {chef name} and their cuisine ({cuisine name}) for Sections 10, 11, and 12: Visual Identity, Cultural Material Culture, and Food Photography Conventions.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION 10 INSTRUCTIONS (Visual and Photographic Identity): Analyze published cookbooks, website, social media, and media appearances. Report on:
- Photography style overview (studio vs natural, clean vs rustic, dark vs bright)
- Lighting patterns (natural vs artificial, warm vs cool, mood)
- Surface and environment patterns (materials, indoor/outdoor, framing)
- Plating and presentation style (portions, arrangement, garnish, sauces)
- Color tendencies (food, backgrounds, props, saturation)
- Imperfection level (crumbs, drips, natural irregularity)
- Emotional intent (what feeling should images evoke)
- Temperature and climate context (steam appropriate? how to convey freshness?)

SECTION 11 INSTRUCTIONS (Cultural Material Culture): Research the physical objects of this cuisine's visual identity:
- Ceramics: 3-5 traditions (native name, description, when used, visual characteristics)
- Signature vessels: 3-5 cooking/serving vessels with cultural significance
- Materials: 3-5 surface materials specific to this culture's kitchens
- Cultural props: 3-5 objects that are visual shorthand for this cuisine
- Color signatures: 5-7 colors described by ingredient source (not generic color names)
- Visual disambiguation: what distinguishes this cuisine visually from neighbors

SECTION 12 INSTRUCTIONS (Food Photography Conventions):
- Serving conventions (family-style vs individual, condiments, service order)
- Climate and temperature norms (steam, freshness cues)
- Plating traditions (vessel-to-dish mapping, proper vs informal)
- Common misrepresentations (how Western media gets it wrong)
- Visual differentiators (what makes a photo identifiably this cuisine)

All three sections form one visual cluster. Do 3-4 searches covering the chef's photography style AND the cuisine's visual conventions.
Target: 600-900 words across all three sections. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Researcher-TextVoice** (name: `ResearcherTextVoice`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Sections 7, 8, and 9: Anti-Identity, Recipe Content Samples, and Narrative Voice.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION 7 INSTRUCTIONS (Anti-Identity and Boundaries):
- Misconceptions they reject (with sources)
- Scope boundaries (how they handle requests outside their expertise)
- 5-7 "I am NOT..." statements

SECTION 8 INSTRUCTIONS (Recipe Content Samples):
Collect ACTUAL passages from published work (direct quotes with attribution):
- 2-3 recipe introductions (text before instructions)
- 1-2 instruction writing passages
- 2-3 tips and asides
- 2-3 dish descriptions/headlines
- 1-2 historical context passages (if heritage cuisine)

SECTION 9 INSTRUCTIONS (Narrative Voice and Heritage Context):
- Narrative mode analysis (personal/emotional voice — with cited examples)
- Historical mode analysis (factual/educational voice — with cited examples)
- Voice shifting patterns (when/how they transition between modes)
- Literary register assessment (lyrical ↔ documentary ↔ conversational)

Do 3-4 searches focusing on finding ACTUAL text samples from their writing — book excerpts, columns, articles.
Target: 600-900 words across all three sections. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Synthesizer** (name: `Synthesizer`)

```
{shared synthesizer context with N=2}

SECTIONS TO WRITE: S7 (Anti-Identity), S8 (Recipe Content Samples), S9 (Narrative Voice), S10 (Visual and Photographic Identity), S11 (Cultural Material Culture), S12 (Food Photography Conventions)
```

**After Team 3 completes:** Verify `research.md` has S7-S12 filled in. Then proceed.

---

### Team 4 — Final Synthesis

**Team name:** `research-final`
**Researchers:** 1 | **Synthesizer expects:** 1 message

Spawn these 2 agents simultaneously:

**Researcher-Dish** (name: `ResearcherDish`)

```
You are researching {chef name} for Section 13: Signature Dishes and Techniques.

{shared researcher context}

SECTION INSTRUCTIONS:
- Signature dishes grouped by category (e.g., street food, home cooking, special occasion) as tables with: Dish name | Culinary Significance | Visual Description
- Characteristic techniques: what cooking methods define this chef (not just WHAT but HOW)

Do 2-3 focused searches. Target: 300-500 words. Send to Synthesizer when done.
```

**Synthesizer** (name: `Synthesizer`)

```
{shared synthesizer context with N=1}

SECTIONS TO WRITE:
- S13 (Signature Dishes and Techniques) — from researcher findings
- S14 (Persona Synthesis Notes) — YOUR OWN SYNTHESIS based on reading the ENTIRE research.md:
  - Recommended archetype (2-4 words) with rationale and 2 alternatives
  - Voice compass (2-3 sentences summarizing core voice direction)
  - Heritage persona recommendation (true/false with rationale)
  - Key pitfalls (3-5 chef-specific things the persona creator should NOT do)
  - Differentiation notes (how this chef differs from existing personas)
  - Open questions (anything unresolved)
- S16 (Source Bibliography) — compile all sources cited throughout the document, organized by type
- Frontmatter — fill in the YAML frontmatter block at the top of the document with recommendations
```

---

## Step 4: Mark Complete

After Team 4 finishes and `research.md` is fully written:

1. Write `researchStatus: complete` to the cuisine entry in the taxonomy YAML
2. Write `researchChef: {chef-folder-name}` to the cuisine entry
3. Print a summary:
   ```
   Research complete: {chef name} ({cuisine name})
   Output: docs/chefs/origins/eu/{chef-folder-name}/research.md
   Next step: /create-persona docs/chefs/origins/eu/{chef-folder-name}/research.md
   ```