noun
A person who cooks professionally or skillfully. 料理人 is a neutral, common term for a cook or chef, without specifying rank.
彼は一流ホテルの料理人だ。
He is a cook at a first-class hotel.
料理人になるには、まず包丁の
To become a cook, you first have to learn how to use a kitchen knife.
調理師 is a licensed professional cook who has passed a national exam, whereas 料理人 is a general term that does not imply certification.
Compound of 料理 (cooking, cuisine) and 人 (person). The reading りょうりにん follows standard on'yomi readings for both kanji.