Grill Behaviour – Why Working In A Michelin-Starred Kitchen Can Lead To Violence And Abuse

The physical isolation of chefs working in Michelin-starred kitchens can lead to violent misbehaviour and a feeling that “the rules don’t apply”, a study based on interviews with dozens of top chefs has found.

- Robert Booth

Working long hours away from the public in often windowless and cramped kitchens creates a parallel moral universe in which abuse and violence is the norm, the study of 47 chefs at restaurants in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America by academics at Cardiff University found.

It follows a spate of allegations of misconduct in some kitchens in the UK, including at a restaurant in Edinburgh run by the Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin, which resulted in the suspension of two staff. His company launched an investigation after historical claims of bullying and physical assault last July. A spokesperson for Kitchin said it had since fully implemented recommendations with “ a group-wide external training programme, enhancing and reinforcing our ethos, policies, and procedures to ensure best practice”.

Other chefs from different restaurants also posted anonymous complaints on social media about abusive behavior, in what was known as the hospitality industry’s #MeToo moment.