Membership

Membership in the Friends of the Kitchen Association begins with a nomination by a full member. The prospective member fills out the application form and provides the required information, then attends one of the association’s events. The application is reviewed at a Board of Directors meeting, and candidates who meet the necessary criteria are admitted to membership by a vote. The primary requirement for becoming a member of the association is the candidate’s interest in the kitchen and gastronomy.

The Friends of the Kitchen Association is open to anyone who contributes to gastronomy and culinary culture—whether through writing, reading, or hands-on practice. For this reason, the association’s members come from a wide range of professions. Among the members are chefs and gourmets, food writers, food industry professionals, and restaurant owners, as well as people from various other professions such as architects, tourism professionals, doctors, lawyers, and accountants. In short, the Friends of the Kitchen is an association for those passionate about food culture. With approximately 250 members, the association’s board of directors carefully reviews membership applications and evaluates candidate profiles—ensuring they align with the association’s spirit of friendship—every three to four months.

Candidates accepted into membership wear regalia consisting of a burgundy-and-gray lapel pin featuring a symbolic silver spoon at meetings and social dinners. Before the meal begins, the large silver spoon—the association’s symbol—is ceremonially presented to the president. At gala dinners, the president begins the meal by offering a taste of the food to individuals of his choosing.