The Kitchin
| The Kitchin | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2006 |
| Owner(s) | Tom Kitchin |
| Head chef | Tom Kitchin |
| Food type | French cuisine |
| Rating |  (Michelin Guide) |
| Street address | 78 Commercial Quay |
| City | Edinburgh |
| Postal/ZIP Code | EH6 6LX |
| Country | Scotland, UK |
| Seating capacity | 60 covers |
| Website | www |
55°58′37″N 3°10′23″W / 55.977°N 3.173°W
The Kitchin is a fine dining restaurant in Edinburgh, Scotland, run by Tom Kitchin and his wife Michaela (née Berseilus). It serves fresh Scottish produce in a French style from Kitchin's time spent with Alain Ducasse. It was awarded a Michelin star within six months of opening.
Description[edit]
The Kitchin was opened by Tom Kitchin and then fiancée Michaela Berseilus in June 2006. The building is a former whisky bond on the waterfront in the Leith area of Edinburgh.[1] The imprint of Kitchin's work with Alain Ducasse and Pierre Koffmann is noticeable in the style of food served,[1][2] and the restaurant has received support from other chefs that Kitchin has worked with; including opening with the cutlery and plates formerly used at the three-Michelin-starred restaurant La Tante Claire, operated by Koffman.[1] The interior of the restaurant is decorated with dark woods and shades of grey by design company Cubit Design, and wallpapers by Jocelyn Warner.[1] A window opens from the dining room onto the kitchen area itself, and it has a conservatory-style bar serving snacks and light meals.[3]
The food merges seasonal Scottish produce with French styles and techniques; the restaurant has the mantra "from nature to plate".[3] While chef Tom Kitchin was away filming The Great British Menu for the BBC in March 2008, Pierre Koffman came out of retirement to stand in as head chef.[4]
Within six months of opening, The Kitchin was awarded a Michelin star.[5] In 2009 the restaurant was voted as the second-best restaurant in Britain by Eat Out Magazine,[5] and the best restaurant in the UK by Observer Food Monthly in 2010.[6] The team behind The Kitchin opened a second restaurant, Castle Terrace, in July 2010.[7]
In June 2021, former workers of the Kitchin made allegations of bullying, violence and sexual assault in his restaurants. One alleged a chef burned a woman's arm with a hot tray from an oven, while another claimed staff were repeatedly punched if they were not fast enough. On 3 July, Tom Kitchin suspended two members of staff following these allegations. Kitchin Group said the claims would be "fully and independently" investigated.[8]
Reception[edit]
A.A. Gill, writing in The Sunday Times, gave The Kitchin five stars out of five, praised the common-sense approach of the menu construction, and described his food as "the best and most agreeable dinner I've eaten all year".[9] The Independent's Terry Durack gave the restaurant sixteen out of twenty, praising the informality and the avoidance of normal Michelin-star cuisine, but said that the fish course was the "duff note of the night".[10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Armstrong, Hilary, ed. (4 July 2006). "Openings: The Kitchin" (PDF). Restaurant Magazine.
- ^ Carter, Terence (11 February 2011). "Lunch in The Kitchin: From Nature to Plate". grantourismo!.
- ^ a b "The Kitchin – Leith Review". The Mobile Food Guide. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ Miller, Claire (18 March 2008). "Koffmann Returns to the Kitchin". Big Hospitality.
- ^ a b Gerard, Jasper (15 January 2010). "Scotland restaurant guide: The Kitchin, Edinburgh". The Telegraph. London.
- ^ "Observer Food Monthly Awards 2010". The Guardian. London. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to Castle Terrace". Castle Terrace Restaurant. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
- ^ "Tom Kitchin staff suspended amid bullying claims". BBC.com. 3 July 2021.
- ^ Gill, A.A. (18 October 2009). "AA Gill reviews The Kitchin". The Sunday Times.
- ^ Durack, Terry (25 March 2007). "The Kitchin, Edinburgh". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009.