If your friends occupation does not fit with any NOC under the 29, then he will need a job offer to apply.
If you are a cook, then you can apply as a cook. Here is the NOC description so you can figure out if you meet the requirements:
http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc/english/noc/2011/Profile.aspx?val=6&val1=6322Note that the NOC code for cook used to be 6242 and immigration still has it listed like that but the NOC recently changed the codes. Still, a cook is a cook.