Caterersearch.com 100: Tom Kitchin
Overall ranking: 99
Chef ranking: 32
Tom Kitchin - Snapshot
Tom Kitchin is the chef-patron of Michelin-starred restaurant the Kitchin, in Leith, Edinburgh, as well as the Castle Terrace, which opened in July 2010 in the Scottish capital.
Tom Kitchin - Career guide
Kitchin, who is 32 this year, started his career as a trainee at his local pub, before moving on to the world-famous Gleneagles hotel, near where he grew up in Kinross. From there he went on to work for some of Europe's biggest names in restaurants, including Pierre Koffmann at his three-Michelin-starred restaurant La Tante Claire in London, Guy Savoy at his three-starred Paris restaurant and at Alain Ducasse's iconic Le Louis XV in Monte Carlo.
He opened the Kitchin in June 2006 with his wife, Michaela, and picked up a Michelin star just seven months later, becoming only the third chef to win the accolade in Edinburgh. His second site, the 50-seat Castle Terrace in Edinburgh, opens in July, with Dominic Jack, chef-patron.
Tom Kitchin - What we think
Scotland has a potential superstar in the young, gifted Tom Kitchin and someone capable of emulating the likes of Andrew Fairlie by putting Scottish cooking on the international stage.
With so much experience in some of Europe's best kitchens, it was no surprise that Kitchin picked up a Michelin star so soon after opening his first site, aged just 29. Kitchin himself then went on to win the Scottish Chef of the Year title in 2007, while his restaurant went on to pick up a Catey for Best Newcomer in 2008, as well as the Restaurant of the Year (Scotland) at the AA Centenary Awards in the same year.
Kitchin's simple, robust flavours, respect for nature and technically proficient cooking echoes that of his mentor, Koffmann. Also famous for his desire to showcase the quality of his homeland's ingredients, Kitchin specialises in a modern cuisine that is the perfect model for aspiring Scottish chefs.
As well as appearing on BBC's Saturday Kitchen Live, Kitchen extended his profile outside Scotland when he competed in the Great British Menu in both 2008 and 2009.
Tom Kitchin - Further information
From Nature to Plate by Tom Kitchin - Book review >>
Tom Kitchin named Scottish Chef of the Year >>
Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin to open second restaurant >>
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