Martijn Kajuiter steps down from executive chef role at The Cliff House Hotel

Michelin-starred chef Martijn Kajuiter is stepping down as executive chef at The Cliff House Hotel to pursue a different role within the company. 

According to a statement on the hotel's Facebook page, the chef will take up "a newly created commercial and business development position," in which "he will be involved in developing innovative, and expanding existing Cliff offerings, including Cliff @ Home and Cliff @ Work, as part of their catering products."

During his tenure Martijn received and maintained a Michelin star for the House Restaurant,which was retained in the 2020 guide. 

In a recent interview with The Staff Canteen, Martijn said that this was by no means a case of the team resting on its laurels, and that keeping hold of it each year was "a mental disaster."

"It seems that each years it gets more challenging to maintain and control the monster we have created. Staff resources and by times acceptance for our way of working is the one we struggle with the most." 

"If you build something up, you have something to live for, and each day we take it as it is. We are adaptive and creative in how to deal with this, we keep breathing."

The hotel is still seeking a replacement for the chef, touting the role as "an exciting opportunity for an ambitious chef to not only take the reins from Martijn but to begin to write a new chapter in the House Restaurant."

"The executive chef, with his or her own ideas, inspirations and ambitions, will be able to make a unique stamp on the House whilst retaining its original ethos, vision and most importantly standards of excellence."