Martijn is Dutch born and joined The Cliff House Hotel in October 2007. He worked with food from a young age, his parents ran a bistro and café in Groningen.
At 17 Martijn trained under Dutch master chef, Wynand Vogel, and later went on to work underchef Gert Jan Hageman at The Vermeer restaurant, which gained one Michelin star during his time there.
In 1995 he moved to London where he worked at L’ Ortolan and The Waterside Inn under John Burton Race and Michel Roux. He then joined the three Michelin star restaurant Le Tante Claire, under Pierre Koffmann and after six months joined The Restaurant at The Hyde Park, also holder of three Michelin stars.
Tuna
He returned to Holland where we worked at Les Quatre Canetons as head chef, before moving to Restaurant De Kas, also as head chef, again under chef Gert Jan Hageman.
In 2007 he moved to Ireland and The Cliff House Hotel, the hotel opened in 2008 and was awarded a Michelin star after 18 months. Whilst being in Ireland, he has set up a garden at The Cliff House Hotel where they, as a business can grow their own supplies and also poly tunnels that are supported by the St Raphaels center.
House at The Cliff House Hotel
House in Ireland is the perfect example of an exquisite restaurant; House is located in the famous five star resort The Cliff House Hotel.It is in a seaside
village in West Waterford. Martijn Kajuiter is an award-winning chef and brings the Irish dining experience to the surface. He is the man behind the food at The Cliff House Hotel and works closely with Stephen Hayes and Darren Mulvihill, which help to ensure that the cooking standards are high.
Stephen recently moved back to Ireland after working for two years at the three Michelin star Dutch restaurant, De Librije. Darren is originally from Limerick and worked at the five star Doonbed resort and joined the team at Cliff House Hotel in 2012.
Just a few awards to note down, Relais & Châteauxrecognised The Cliff House Hotel as a leading luxury hotel in Ireland when in 2010, House is part of an exclusive collection of 475 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 55 countries. In 2010, they were awarded a highly coveted Michelin star - marking a first for a hotel restaurant in Ireland. We are happy to say we have retained this star to the present day.
In 2011, The Cliff House Hotel in Waterford was awarded three AA Rosettes for The House Restaurant presided over by multi-award winning chef, Martijn Kajuiter. In 2013, House Restaurant was honoured with four AA Rosettes.
Lets Go Disco
As well as cooking at The Cliff House Hotel, Martijn has brought out a book called ‘Lets Go Disco.’ This is a saying that they often use in the kitchen in Ardmore when its time to get down and get the work done. The book is filled with dishes, photographs, informative essays and interviews from the chef himself – its his life written in a book for everyone to read. Gournmand world named Marijn one of five finalists in the cookbook awards in 2012.
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