Sunday 26th October 2025
Location: Taste Stage
Ken Harker is the Executive Chef at Statham’s by Pembroke Hotel in Kilkenny, a role he stepped into in June 2021 after more than a decade steering Michelin-starred kitchens. At Statham’s he champions “real, honest food” elevated by precise technique and a deep respect for local Irish produce, guiding a hand-picked brigade on menus that balance comfort and creativity.
Before joining Pembroke, Harker spent ten years at Mount Juliet Estate’s Lady Helen Restaurant, first as Head Chef and later Executive Chef, where he retained the restaurant’s Michelin star and 3 AA Rosettes through a relentless focus on flavour, seasonality and team discipline.
Originally from Sunderland in England’s North-East, Harker began training as an architect, a background that still informs the structural elegance of his plating. A part-time kitchen-porter job at 16 ignited a passion that led him to catering college and, ultimately, more than 26 years in professional kitchens. Now settled in Kilkenny with his wife, young daughter and two dogs.
Harker’s food philosophy is rooted in seasonality, zero-waste discipline and producer relationships. Whether slow-grilling heritage carrots from nearby farms or crafting a feather-light buttermilk sauce for County Kilkenny trout, he lets ingredients dictate the dish. The result is cooking that feels both luxuriously crafted and refreshingly approachable proving that exceptional flavour doesn’t have to be fussy, just thoughtful.
This thoughtful approach to cooking will be on full display at Stathams later that evening, for the a special dining event, The Best of the Stathams Supper Club Series, tickets on sale here.
Organisers Website

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