Kitchen

Number of seasons	6
Number of episodes	120
Episode length	25 minutes
Genre	Sitcom, melodrama
Cast	Dmitry Nazarov, Mark Bogatyryov, Dmitry Nagiyev, Elena Podkaminskaya, Marina Mogilevskaya, Viktor Khorinyak, Olga Kuzmina, Sergey Epishev, Sergey Lavygin, Mikhail Tarabukin, Nikita Tarasov, Valeriya Fedorovich, Mikhail Bashkatov, Igor Vernik, Elena Ksenofontova, Grigory Siyatvinda, Philip Bledny
Writers	Vitaly Shlyappo, Vasily Kutsenko, Igor Tudvasev, Dmitriy Yan, Pavel Danilov, Zhannat Kerimbaev, Vadim Komissaruk, Oleg Mastich, Tatyana Goncharova, Aslan Gugkaev, Aslan Sokurov, Harry Gupalenko, Konstantin Ivanov, Anatoly Molchanov, Vyacheslav Zub, Andrey Ageev, Alexey Lebedev, Alexey Zuyonok, Dmitry Krepchuk, Roman Angelin, Alexander Danilov
Creators	Vitaly Shlyappo, Vasily Kutsenko, Igor Tudvasev, Dmitriy Yan, Pavel Danilov (Yellow, Black and White and KeyStone Production)
Music	Ivan Kanaev
Country	Russia
Website	CTC official website
Release years	2012–2016 (22 October 2012 – 31 March 2016)
Rating Kinopoisk • IMDb	8.2/10 • 7.6/10
Age restriction	16+

"Kitchen" is a Russian television series combining elements of sitcom and melodrama, created by Yellow, Black, and White and KeyStone Production specifically for STS. The first four seasons focus on the daily lives and professional activities of the staff of the prestigious French restaurant Claude Monet. Beginning with the fifth season, the action moves to the Victor restaurant, located within the ELEON Hotel. It has been a long-standing series and is considered one of the best antidepressants on Russian television.

Statistics

Total duration of the series:
Number of filming years:
Number of directors:

Film crew

Directors

Dmitry Dyachenko (seasons 1–2)

Ivan Tokhtamysh (Zhora Kryzhovnikov) (season 3)

Anton Fedotov (seasons 4–6)

Producers

Vyacheslav Murugov (general)

Eduard Iloyan (general)

Vitaly Shlyappo (general)

Alexey Trotsyuk (general)

Denis Zhalinsky (general)

Vasily Kutsenko (creative)

Aslan Gugkaev (creative)

Camera Operators

Sergey Dyshyuk (seasons 1–2)

Denis Panov (seasons 2–5)

Mikhail Selikhov (season 6)

Plot

Brief Description of Events of the Series

"Kitchen" is a narrative centered on the story of Maxim Lavrov, an ambitious young man who strives to realize his dream of becoming an outstanding chef. In search of professional growth and skill, he gets a job at a prestigious restaurant owned by a famous media personality, Dmitry Nagiyev.

The plot develops against the backdrop of various events, where the main focus is on the complex interactions between the characters. The eccentric actions of the head chef, numerous interpersonal conflicts, competitive tension among the employees and the eventful interior space of the professional kitchen create a special dynamic.

The viewer finds himself immersed in a complex network of human relationships that reveal the characters in their deep diversity. Each character is presented through the manifestation of their weaknesses, trembling feelings, delusions, comic situations and sincere emotionality, which contributes to the creation of a multi-layered and dramatic narrative.

Season-by-season description of the series events

Season 1

Maxim Lavrov, an aspiring young chef, arrives in Moscow and joins the prestigious Claude Monet restaurant owned by showman Dmitry Nagiyev. He faces the harsh, eccentric head chef Victor Barinov and the competitive kitchen environment. Maxim befriends bartender Kostya and starts a romance with art director Victoria. The season follows his struggle to prove himself professionally while navigating complex relationships and daily kitchen dramas.

Season 2

Relationships deepen: Maxim and Victoria’s romance develops, but faces challenges. New staff members arrive, stirring up more tension. Victor Barinov’s clashes with the owner intensify. Kitchen pranks by chefs Senya and Fedya add comic relief. Maxim strives to earn respect from Barinov, who remains skeptical of his skills. Professional rivalries and personal secrets drive the plot forward.

Season 3

The team faces new professional challenges and personal crises. Barinov’s authority is tested. Maxim’s growth as a chef continues, but his relationship with Victoria strains. A subplot follows Barinov’s developing feelings for Elena Sokolova, head chef of a rival restaurant. The season ends with a cliffhanger, leading into the film Kitchen in Paris, where the team travels to France for a high‑stakes culinary project.

Season 4

After returning from Paris, the Claude Monet team adjusts to life back in Moscow. Barinov is fired, and the strict Herman Land takes over as head chef, sparking conflict. Maxim and Victoria marry, but their marriage is tested by new challenges. Barinov struggles outside the kitchen. Denis, Maxim’s childhood friend, joins the staff, adding new dynamics. The season builds toward a transition to a new setting.

Season 5

The action moves to the Victor restaurant within the ELEON Hotel, where Barinov becomes head chef again. Many original staff members follow him, including Maxim. New characters appear, such as hotel manager Mikhail Jackovich. Katya (Barinov’s daughter) and Denis’s romance unfolds. Professional challenges in the new kitchen mix with personal dilemmas. The hotel setting introduces new power dynamics and comedic situations.

Season 6

Barinov pursues his dream of earning a Michelin star, pushing the team to their limits. Maxim faces career decisions and personal choices. Katya must choose between Denis and Nikita. Barinov and Elena’s relationship reaches a turning point. The season resolves key plotlines: Barinov achieves recognition, staff find closure, and the series ends with a sense of accomplishment and new beginnings for the characters.

Season-by-season overview of the series episodes

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Seasons		Episodes
Season 1		1	2	3
Season 2		1	2	3	4
Season 3		1	2	3	4	5	6
Season 4		1	2	3	4	5	6
Season 5		1	2	3
Season 6		1	2	3

Characters

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Interesting pages

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Interesting facts and notes

The series was produced by Yellow, Black and White and KeyStone Production for the CTC channel.

Seasons 1–4 take place in the Claude Monet French restaurant; seasons 5–6 — in the Victor restaurant (within the ELEON Hotel).

The first season was released on DVD on 5 March 2013.

A book based on the series, Kitchen. Love for Dessert, was published in 2014.

The show gained a cult following, with over 1 million signatures collected in a fan campaign to renew the series after its announced closure in 2015.