By Dennis Cowles
One of my favourite bands from the 1980s is The Tubes. Their song ‘Outside Lookin’ Inside’ perfectly symbolises how our guests experience the new kitchen design at Seats2meet. The open window we created literally gives visitors a peek into my work area. They can see how I work, and how our kitchen team contributes every day to the unique meetings and experiences that define Seats2meet. For me, as a new member of the S2M team and a chef in this inspiring environment, this window works the other way around. It offers me ‘’insight’’ into the daily happenings in this special ecosystem. I look out onto the various spaces and see people coming together, exchanging ideas and collaborating.
That outside-in look has not only given me insight into how Seats2meet's core values - attention, equality, enrichment, fun and pioneering - are put into practice, but also into how this place inspires and connects people. Not only do ideas come to life here, but a culture of respect, learning and innovation is nurtured, inviting everyone to contribute to something bigger.
My journey towards this began in my childhood. As a young boy, I looked over my grandmother's shoulder in her kitchen. She laid the foundation for my love of cooking. I later took a culinary course in Boston and worked as a chef in restaurants in La Lavadou, London and Amsterdam, among others. Yet my career path initially ran differently. I studied at Boston University School of Management and worked in the IT and telecom sector for more than 20 years. Although cooking always remained a passion, my professional focus was elsewhere. But in 2014, I decided it was time for a change - a personal ‘tilt’. I took part in MasterChef Holland, where I finished among the last 10 out of 1,000 participants. This experience reinforced my conviction: cooking is not only what I love to do most, it's also what I do best.
This pioneering spirit eventually led me to Seats2meet, where innovation and connection are key. From my very first shift, I was attracted to the unique mix of talents, the extraordinary décor and the philosophy of ‘Seatsers’. The concept encourages trying new things, experimenting and growing - values that perfectly align with my own vision of work and life. My journey to this place has taught me that the best encounters and insights are often unexpected. And that is exactly what makes Seats2meet unique: a place where everyone is welcome to pioneer and grow, with a dash of culinary inspiration as a bonus.
For me, the open window in the kitchen symbolises all this. It is not only a physical window, but also a metaphor for how I got to know this inspiring place: by observing, learning and actively contributing to what makes Seats2meet so special. This is why I cordially invite you to take a look behind the scenes, literally and figuratively. Come experience how we at Seats2meet bring connection and inspiration to life. Whether you are a guest, employee or Seats2meet partner, I look forward to sharing new insights together - and maybe even a meal!
