Mickael Viljanen, who resigned this week as head chef at the Greenhouse cafe in Dublin, is to consider over the kitchen at Chapter 1, on the other side of the River Liffey. Viljanen and Ross Lewis, Chapter One’s chef-owner, have entered a organization partnership that will see the cafe reopen as Chapter 1 by Mickael Viljanen, with the two cooks as co-proprietors.

Key customers of Viljanen’s kitchen group at the Greenhouse, which acquired its 2nd Michelin star in the 2020 edition of the influential manual, are envisioned to abide by him to Chapter A person, which will reopen as before long as pandemic limits enable.

Lewis will stay a shareholder in and director of the cafe, and will have an energetic position in the new enterprise, but will no longer be cooking. He has owned the cafe for 29 decades, initially in partnership with Martin Corbett and considering the fact that 2017, on Corbett’s retirement, as joint operator with his wife, Jessica. “The strategy is for me to now engage with the day-to-working day running of the small business facet of it and to assist Mickael in the way ahead. I am partnering him, and I’ll be here for some decades to occur.

Chapter One: Ross Lewis has owned the Dublin restaurant for 29 years. Photograph: Alan Betson
Chapter Just one: Ross Lewis has owned the Dublin cafe for 29 yrs. Photograph: Alan Betson

“You get to a certain stage in your profession when you do get started wondering about what the future five or 10 years will hold. I received to the phase wherever I was searching to the potential and stating mine is not the strength to just take it on to the following portion of the journey. Then Covid came alongside, and I experienced time to reflect on it,” Lewis states.

“I come to feel the time is now right to phase away from the Chapter One kitchen to make it possible for for a new innovative vitality to build on the foundations of the final 29 years’ do the job. While this instant is bitter-sweet, I am also thrilled about welcoming Mickael to Chapter One. He is a hugely proficient chef who is prepared to turn into chef-patron. Releasing myself from the Chapter One particular kitchen will let me to emphasis my culinary gaze on my Italian restaurant, Osteria Lucio, on Clanwilliam Terrace, which I plan to up grade over the coming yr.”

Viljanen, who says he has informed Michelin of the developments and that “they appeared pretty eager to see what occurs next”, does not intend to alter his fashionable-European fashion of cooking in the move. “Ah, you know, tigers and stripes. I know what I know, but naturally we are heading to develop on what’s been finished so much by the crew and whoever is going to go with me.”

Michelin stars: Mickael Viljanen at last year’s awards ceremony
Michelin stars: Mickael Viljanen at the 2020 awards ceremony

Does that imply he will be aiming to replicate the two Michelin stars the Greenhouse was awarded in 2020 at Chapter Just one, which has been a one-star since 2007? “I am aiming for a fantastic chaotic restaurant, but my ambitions have not diminished due to the fact I remaining,” he states. “My intention is to get my head down as before long as achievable and go back again to in which I belong, which is the kitchen. I would like to see us have a really obtainable Irish cafe of global standing.”

Lewis claims the “valuable contribution from employees previous and existing, some of whom have been extensive-serving, are not able to be calculated. The team is hunting forward now to a new challenge.”

Viljanen, who was born in Sweden and grew up in Finland, arrived to Ireland from the United kingdom in 2000 he beforehand labored at the Tannery, in Dungarvan, and Gregans Castle, in Co Clare, wherever he expended 5 several years as head chef. He has been named Chef of the Year on several instances in Eire, by the Places to eat Affiliation of Eire, the Georgina Campbell Guideline and Foodstuff & Wine journal.