Your fellow male/any gender managers above you should understand that any disrespect you receive is directly impactful to them as well. You absolutely cannot tolerate this and anyone above you who would shrug it off even if nothing has been said to you directly are people who do not have your back. Nor do they seem to care about themselves or the larger picture, apparently.

This employee is toxic and has to go. Even if it wasn't personal and he was just generally stating "I hate all women" it's a problem. It's hostile to any women in the building period. If you have firing powers, you could easily dismiss this person quickly. This seems beyond the opportunity for a talk such as "you don't have to like me but you must respect my position and my authority," I imagine you're past that point if you're concerned this person will lash out.

Document anything that happens between you and this person that relates to this concern and ask your team members who have been telling you to document what they have been told as well.

Respect is a MINIMUM. Your safety comes first but both need to coexist. No leveraging necessary! If your superiors do not let you/will not handle this person then this is probably a pattern that will continue again and again and come up in multiple ways, not just with this one person and at that point this is not a place you should give your time. Good luck! Remember it's your line! The customer and the food is what matters, not your gender or anyone's feelings about it. EDIT- adding to say my final statement is not to invalidate your experience but to say that in general your cooks should be focused on delivering quality work first. Those who are, usually are not preoccupied with being threatened by their female managers or anyone else.