Join Open Kitchen Week, 10th to 16th November
Have you ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes in a professional kitchen? As part of its Open Kitchen Week initiative running from 10th to 16th November, Chef Network invites you to step ‘behind the pass’ and experience the inner workings of top kitchens across Ireland.
From workplace kitchens to restaurants, five-star hotels, and Michelin-starred venues, Open Kitchen Week provides a unique glimpse into a diverse range of culinary environments. Participants will have the opportunity to step inside kitchens at renowned hotels, including Cashel Palace Hotel, Wineport Lodge, Lough Erne Resort, and Blue Haven Kinsale, where they can experience everything from the pace of breakfast service to the refined dining of a 5-star hotel.
Michelin-starred restaurants Aniar and Glovers Alley will open their doors to guests, demonstrating the skill and precision required in fine dining, while House of Plates and Kombu Ramen & Bao Bar will showcase the fast-paced, behind-the-scenes energy of a bustling restaurant.
Open Kitchen Week Ambassador and Founder of Grá Chocolates, Gráinne Mullins, fondly remembers her first time in a professional kitchen and jumped at the chance to take part as a host kitchen for Open Kitchen Week. “For me, Open Kitchen Week is a chance to give back to the industry that has given me so much. I still remember the excitement of my first work experience placement in my transition year. That glimpse into a professional kitchen lit a fire in me that led to a ten-year career in fine dining before I started Grá Chocolates. Now, I always want to offer that same inspiration to the next generation. We’re throwing open our doors at Grá Chocolates to aspiring young chefs, pastry chefs, and chocolatiers, giving them a glimpse into what a day in our world is really like. I’m truly honoured to be the ambassador for this year’s event and to help shine a light on the incredible kitchens all over Ireland”.
Aoife Comerford, Sous Chef at Glovers Alley and Chef Network Spokesperson, has been involved since the first year of the initiative, welcoming participants into the Glovers Alley kitchen. She says: “As someone who’s still learning every day, I know how inspiring it is to get that hands-on glimpse into different kitchens and styles. I’d encourage anyone to take part in Open Kitchen Week — it’s such an amazing chance to step inside real professional kitchens and see what this industry is all about. Whether you’re a student, a home cook with big dreams, or already working in food, it opens doors to incredible experiences across Ireland’s restaurants, hotels, bakeries, cafés, and more.”
Registration for Chef Network’s Open Kitchen Week, taking place from November 10th to 16th, 2025, opens online today, Monday, September 15th, at openkitchen.ie
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