The Kitchen

Renovation work began in the restaurant back in 2007 under the direction of interior architect Maria MacVeigh. Once the interior work was completed, the focus turned towards the kitchen which had been in place for nearly two decades. The challenge was to create a state of the art kitchen, creating depth and dimension, with aesthetics that were not only beautiful, but practical enough to meet with the everyday requirements of the chefs. The kitchen renovation was a very personal project for Ross and he was determined to create a space that was reflective of his own vision for the restaurant as a whole. His travels to some of the world’s finest restaurant kitchens had given him inspiration but the driving force behind this creativity was to ensure that each and every section of the kitchen was custom built, specifically for the task at hand.

Dedicated sections, temperature controlled rooms and the latest heat and lighting technologies have been integrated into a one thousand square foot kitchen, complete with epoxy resin floors, ceilings and wall finishes.

This extensive re-fit was carried out in conjunction with Gerry Kane and Dave Moody, from Kaneco, who worked with Ross on the design for some 8 months before work was to commence on the complete overhaul of the original 20 year old kitchen. But the design was only one part of this long process. The next challenge was to ensure the kitchen was ready to re-open within 17 working days. The work involved was massive: floors and ceilings were removed and replaced and brand new equipment was installed and commissioned within this incredibly tight schedule. It was a massive achievement for all involved and the kitchen changed from an old fashioned, cumbersome block into a spatially efficient and beautifully ergonomic, work environment.

The kitchen is simply unrecognisable from its original shape and has completely changed the working atmosphere for the chefs. The sleek and elegant design of chocolate brown tiles and red, wall-to-wall covering, with smoked glass, powder coated stainless steel and marble countertops provide a cool balance to the creative heat of the kitchen. A unique but subtle, visual access into the kitchen has been provided for those seated on the chefs table, but the mystery and allure that goes hand in hand with all great kitchens remains, securing Chapter One’s culinary magic.

www.mariamacveigh.com

www.kaneco.ie