Award-winning chef facing bankruptcy
Bankruptcy proceedings have been filed against a former chef of the year who was once hailed a Covid hero.
Manawatū’s Grant Kitchen was ordered to pay $40,000 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) after a dispute with Janine Smith, an employee who worked at his restaurant Eatery 1487 at the Feilding Gold Club.
Employment lawyer Alex Kersjes, who founded legal advocacy firm Sacked Kiwi and represents Smith, said despite the ERA’s decision in May 2023 they had not received any money.
They filed bankruptcy proceedings against Kitchen, and he was due to appear in court on March 4 but did not show up. He was expected to appear again this Monday.
Kitchen claims he paid $2200 but stopped any further payments after he engaged a lawyer.
They had since provided evidence, at the court’s request, of his financial state to show he was in hardship.
He said Smith and her lawyer had made “things difficult” for him, by sending abusive emails and threats.
Kitchen said he wanted to pay the full sum but was “financially wrecked” and needed to do it at an amount he could afford. “All I wanted was a resolution to start paying.”
But Kersjes said Kitchen breached payment agreements on three occasions, and had now ceased all contact.
“It would appear he believes he is above the law and can continue to evade his responsibilities.”
Kitchen had until March 4 to make an arrangement with Kersjes and Smith, but failed to do so.
“Kitchen has shifted his assets into other people’s names – for example, the car he drives is in his son’s name ...
“Kitchen owns a business that operates the restaurant at the Feilding Golf Club, but pleads poverty and that he is unable to pay the determination, despite flaunting overseas travel on his Facebook page.”
Kersjes said Kitchen showed no interest in paying Smith on a “voluntary basis”.
“Kitchen clearly has no respect or remorse for the damage and harm he has caused Smith and his conduct continues to create damage and distress. It is abundantly clear that Kitchen has not changed his ways.”
The matter would be pursued until he paid the $40,000 or was adjudged-bankrupt.
Kitchen said he took the ERA’s decision on the chin. But, after Stuff revealed in June 2023 he had not repaid thousands of dollars he borrowed from women he met through Tinder, the publicity almost “sunk” him.
He said his business ventures took a hit financially, and if he was declared bankrupt, he would be unable to pay the money.
Life had been particularly difficult the last couple of years, and he had lost several loved ones, including his father.
When he was convicted of drink-driving for a fourth time in 2023, he was stressed trying to run two businesses and take care of whānau. Kitchen was disqualified from driving for 28 days and had an interlock device put on his car.
It was after this, he said, that he gave his car to his son as a birthday and Christmas present, and that was the reason for its change of ownership.
He said Smith was not a good employee but he did not tell the ERA about any issues because he “did not have time” to go to the hearings.
A former president of the New Zealand Chefs Association, Kitchen had been asked to step away from his ambassador role.
He was removed from the professional group in August and a statement from the organisation, provided on behalf of the national president, said the actions of an individual member did not reflect the values, ethics, or standards of the group.
Kitchen had resigned as president of the association in May 2023.
Former partners of his allegedly contacted NZ Chefs as early as 2018 with concerns about his conduct, but the organisation said it no longer had access to those records. The woman who allegedly received the complaints no longer worked there.
Eatery 1487 was chosen as a finalist in the region’s Plate of Origin competition in September – an event organised by the Manawatū Business Chamber.
Its chief executive, Amanda Linsley, said Kitchen was not a winner in the awards, and “there was no recognition of, or accolade for Grant Kitchen, at any stage”.
“The dish submitted by Eatery 1487 was attributed to the chef who entered the competition, Aaron Freeman.”
The Chamber also hosted an After 5 event in February at Kitchen’s Feilding cafe, and he was again serving his food at the celebrations for Feilding’s 150th anniversary.
But Kitchen had been removed from various events and roles. This included the prominent Tohuna Tūmau dinner in 2023 celebrating Matariki in Christchurch. Spokesperson Rob Elliott told Manawatū Standard at the time it was a mutual decision for Kitchen to step aside.
Kitchen’s Facebook profile said he was the director of several companies, including Kāuta, Eatery 1487, Kaihauorafx and Kitchen Harmony.
According to the companies register, he was also a director of a business called Jagged Edge and had been removed as director of Kāuta in June 2023.