The Gastro Gays spoke to chefs across Ireland to find out which footwear brands could withstand the stress of the kitchen.
They say clean hands are a cook's best tool. Possibly the most crucial implement after that would be a solid, sturdy, long-lasting chef’s knife, right?
For chefs, most of whom will spend a minimum of eight hours (some up to 12 or 14 hours) every day on their feet in the pressure cooker environment that is the professional kitchen, footwear is extremely important, quite possibly the piece of kit more pivotal to their career than prized knives.
From Blundstones, Birkenstocks and New Balance to Crocs, Skechers and Salomon, each chef has their preference — and many have put them all to the test until they found a perfect match. If you were ever curious about why a chef’s choice of footwear is so integral, and which brands each are loyal to, we asked 25 different top chefs across Ireland for their preference.
Nicolas Alegre, Executive Chef, Greenes Restaurant, Cork City
"I have three essential qualities I need fulfilled: comfort, safety and style. I prefer Birkenstock, especially the Boston and Super Birki models and while they might be on the pricier side, I’m more than willing to pay for them as they meet my personal criteria."
[Note: Super Birkis are professional-grade polyurethane clogs from Birkenstock, designed with comfort and safety in mind and worn everywhere from kitchens and hospitals to gardens and factories]
Nathan Donnellan, Co-owner/pastry chef, Folk, Enniskillen
"My preference is Redback boots, like Blundstones but heavy duty." [also from Australia, Redback Boots are popular in industrial and agricultural settings for their hard-wearing durability]
Niall Davidson, chef-owner, allta, Dublin Docklands
"I have tried them all, all sorts of trainers, and current favourite is Salomon hiking ones, from the French sportswear and adventure wear brand, they are best for my heels, non-slip, so much support and waterproof too."
Jess Murphy, Chef-owner, Kai & Hapi Bakery, Galway
"Blundstones, made in Tasmania, Australia, such a solid shoe, they last up to five years without repairs and even at that you can get them repaired super easily".
Rose O'Toole, Head Chef, Grangecon Kitchen, Wicklow
"Crocs with socks are the only thing I don’t get foot ache in. I used to wear Vans but my poor little feet would be dead, I also gave the kitchen-safe leather clogs with steel toe a go but, for me, Crocs are just the best. So light your feet can breathe but they do have to be kept in 'sports’ mode (with the heel strap down) for safety. Of course, I go for some crazy colours, bright orange and baby pink are my current ones, maybe leopard print next! Replacing any footwear regularly in a professional kitchen is essential, too."
Mark Ussher, Executive Chef at Radisson Blu Royal, Dublin
"I wear Birkenstock Tokio Super Grip clogs. They have a cork-latex footbed so naturally mould into your foot to add comfort for tired feet through long hours standing and great for posture too. The sole has a cushion insole then a non slip rubber outsole with a firm grip and there is also an adjustable back strap."
Robbie McAuley, Chef-owner, Homestead Cottage (*), Doolin
"I find New Balance to be the most comfortable and practical for me, I can’t wear Birkenstocks as they dry out my feet. I used to always wear Blundstones but just find them too heavy and think that Crocs should only be allowed to be worn by children."
Marcin Szczodrowski, Ocean Sands Hotel, Enniscrone
"I’m a perfectionist in everything to do with the kitchen and that includes the best footwear. I wear Shoes for Crews clogs, which are non-slip safety shoes that I also find very comfortable."
Conor Morrissey, Sous Chef Glovers Alley (*), Dublin
"I used to wear Crocs but I found Birkenstocks, the professional Bostons, to be way more comfortable and also once you switch you realise how much you look like Krusty the Clown in Crocs! However, I will say that I go through Birks unbelievably fast, a pair probably lasts me eight or 10 months if I’m lucky and across the last decade I have definitely had more than 10 different pairs".
Graham Herterich, Owner, The Bakery Rialto
"My main go-to is Skechers workwear, I used to wear Birkenstocks a lot and I do still have a pair I occasionally go to but to be really honest it's Skechers for me. Look, I’m up at stupid o’clock in the morning to run the bakery, I don’t want to be faffing with clogs that can or can’t easily slip on and off. I find the Skechers such good quality, really comfortable and actually really affordable — I wear mine so much, I mean constantly, that I can afford to replace them every couple of months to give that refreshed support".
Paul Devoy, Executive Head Chef, Clontarf Castle, Dublin
"I have tried most of the brands and found it very much a personal thing. Because of the volume of movement chefs do during high production/turnover periods, we need light and comfortable and due to the number of kitchen staff we have - plus the fact we provide the footwear - we use a generic, non-slip, slip-on shoe from a company called Shoes for Crews. The product is comfortable, light, durable but non-branded."
Aylin Aydın, Reyna & Chiya, Dublin
"Birkenstocks for me, they’re stylish and comfy and I like that they don’t have the holes like Crocs — let’s just say there was an incident last year with myself, my Crocs and a pot of boiling rice… since then it’s been Birks all the way."
Vincent Crepel, Chef-Founder, Terre (**), Castlemartyr Resort, East Cork
"In the kitchen, I rely on New Balance for their comfort, support, and durability, perfect for the long hours on my feet. Outside of service, I switch to Birkenstocks for a more relaxed fit at home as I rest from the shift. Both offer the right balance of functionality and ease, which is exactly what I need in and out of the kitchen."
Reggie White, Chef-owner Reggie’s, Rathmines
"I’ve gone Danskos (horrible), basic Crocs, loads of leather Birkenstocks, ‘Super Birkis’, Blundstones - which are probably the best - Crocs ‘Bistro Pro’ and currently back in leather Birkenstocks but in the restaurant I pretty much rotate those last three: Birks, Blunds and Bistro Crocs."
Paddy Anslow, Executive Head Chef, The Limerick Strand, Limerick City
"Over the years, I have tried many different types of shoes that gave me pain in my feet, legs, and back. For this reason, I have settled on Birkenstock, as they are the most comfortable, hard-wearing, and non-slip light shoe that I have personally tried, an all-around nice safety shoe with the cork-type sole that moulds to the individual's foot –– and they look good, too!"
Zia Burke, Head Chef Bibi’s, Dun Laoghaire
"Crocs, they’re light and can go in the wash, Birkenstocks hurt my knees!"
Ultan Cooke, Executive Chef, Radisson RED Galway
"Ever since I was a Commis and bought my first pair of Birkenstock Boston Clogs I have worn nothing else, one pair normally lasts me exactly a year. They have great arch support and are light, and once your foot gets used to them they are very comfortable. The sight of Crocs annoys me, and while traditional safety shoes are functional they are heavy and clunky."
Jameel Javeed, Head Chef, Kinara Group
"The right footwear is nearly as important as a good, sharp knife for me and my team. We stick to Birkenstocks or Skechers. Birkenstocks give great support and let your feet breathe, making a world of difference during long shifts while Skechers are nice and light with a solid grip, so there's no slipping when the pressure is on."
Conor Halpenny, Chef-owner, Square Restaurant, Dundalk
"I would be a mix of Shoes for Crews and Birkenstocks, plus a chiropodist visit twice a year."
Chefs at The Coburg and Lemuel’s, Conrad Dublin
"Birkenstocks are preferred by all our Conrad kitchen team, long before they started to get popular in the last few years. For us, they tick all the boxes: style, comfort for long hours on your feet and keep your feet dry."
Richie Willson, Culinary Director at SOLE Seafood & Grill and FIRE Steakhouse, Dublin
"I remember getting my first safety shoes for the kitchen. They were given as part of our uniform provided by CERT/ Bord Fáilte and they were the heaviest, hottest and most uncomfortable shoes you could imagine. It wasn’t until I went to work in Thornton’s that Kevin [Thornton] introduced me to Birkenstock clogs. That was a revelation for me, clogs with the correct support give enormous comfort when you are on your feet for such long days not to mention open backs allowing air circulation.
Over the years I haven’t always stuck to Birkenstocks, I have pivoted to a brand called ABEBA for example, which I found to be very hard-wearing and extremely comfortable. No matter what the brand though, the style I have always stuck with is clogs."
The brand to beat?
Birkenstocks appear to be the most popular option for many of the chefs and so many others echoed the sentiment, from Pamela Kelly, Head Chef at Cork’s Farmgate Cafe ("best for posture and wide-fitting") to Gráinne O’Keefe, Chef-owner of Mae in Ballsbridge, Dublin, who only wears the brand.
Pastry chef and Grá Chocolates owner Gráinne Mullins adds: "Birkenstocks for me, for comfort and long-lasting. Day one breaking them in is tough but after that, they are the best ever".
Jenny Flynn, Executive Chef of Faithlegg in Waterford says: "Birkenstocks fan, I love the cork latex base and as I work above average hours a day on my feet it’s good to know I don't need to worry about my footwear being up for it!"
