The couple behind the two Michelin-starred Co. Kildare restaurant Aimsir have resigned from their roles.
Jordan Bailey, chef-patron at Aimsir, and his wife Majken Bech-Bailey, who has held management roles at the restaurant and as part of the Cliff hospitality group - which owns the restaurant - made the announcement on social media on Monday.
Aimsir is one of four restaurants in Ireland that have been awarded two Michelin stars, and has become one of the most widely lauded restaurants since opening five years ago.
The couple moved from Denmark to spearhead the kitchen, located within Cliff at Lyons resort in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, and just five months after opening in 2019 they had been awarded two Michelin stars.
"Since our first days here, my wife and I have married, had a baby girl, and have fallen in love with Ireland but, although the current team at Aimsir is the finest I have ever worked with and I am immensely proud of what our team delivers every service, we both feel the time is right to move on", the couple wrote in a joint statement.
"We both know exactly what we want to do next in Ireland and hope to announce that later in the year. We would like to thank all of our exceptional team who have worked with us at Aimsir since we opened, and all our wonderful guests, friends and suppliers.
"Majken and myself have received nothing but widespread welcome, positivity and support since we came to Ireland, something we have appreciated more than I can ever say, and we look forward to our next chapter in this country."
Bailey's last service as chef patron will be on Saturday 15 April. The restaurant's owner has announced that they are looking for a new chef patron.
Their statement added that after a chef patron has been appointed, the owners will announce details on its new "Aimsir Innovation Hub", which will create "a new centre of excellence, with the ultimate goal of achieving the restaurant's third Michelin star in the near future".
Bailey had previously worked as head chef at 3-star Michelin Maaemo in Oslo before moving to the Kildare spot. Aimsir made its name for its focus on locally grown, harvested, foraged and fished Irish ingredients.
The tasting menu includes roughly 18 dishes and starts at €220 per person. Menus have included dishes such as raw razor clams with elderflower and heather dressing, Flaggy Shore oysters poached in koji butter and toasted birch wood ice cream.
