OpenTable launches ‘Mum’s the Word’ hotline to help those cooking at home this Mother’s Day

OpenTable, the world’s leading provider of online restaurant reservations, has today announced the launch of its ‘Mum’s The Word’ hotline service. Exclusively for Mother’s Day, the hotline will allow struggling would-be-chefs to connect with broadcaster Dev Griffin, as well as culinary experts from OpenTable restaurants, for kitchen tips and advice as they take on the role of head chef and recreate an at-home dining experience for Mum’s special day.

With restaurants sadly closed for Mother’s Day this year and a surge in people moving back in with their parents, a recent OpenTable survey has revealed that 56% of Brits plan to take to the kitchen on Sunday 14th March in order to treat Mothers to a delicious home-cooked meal. OpenTable also found that as a nation we regularly need help with our home cooking, with 42% searching the internet for kitchen tips and advice, and 1 in 4 (25%) using recipes or cookbooks to guide them through their cooking.

In addition, over one third (35%) of Brits admitted that someone else usually takes responsibility for the cooking in their home. Kitchen disasters are also commonplace; with 36% of the UK regularly burning their food, and a shocking 15% confessing to serving undercooked food, OpenTable’s hotline is the perfect antidote for starving off all manner of kitchen woes and mealtime mishaps.

OpenTable’s research has also revealed the nation’s top kitchen nightmares ranked:

Burnt the food (36%)
Set off the fire alarm (29%)
Served overcooked food (26%)
Over / under seasoned the food (21%)
Served undercooked food (15%)
Used the wrong ingredient(s) (12%)
Gave someone food poisoning (4%)

OpenTable has recruited Dev Griffin to man the ‘Mum’s The Word’ hotline and answer calls from the nation’s amateur chefs. A panel of OpenTable experts, including celebrity chef known for his innovative take on Indian cuisine, Vivek Singh, Executive Chef & CEO of The Cinnamon Club, and Sally Abé, Consultant Chef at the Conrad London St James, will also be on hand to share words of wisdom and culinary inspiration for anyone who rings in.

The hotline team will be available from 9am – 12pm on Sunday 14th March, ready to guide the nation through the day, and create the perfect home restaurant experience, helping with any cooking or dining query, from food pairings, recipe guidance and oven temperatures, to cutlery placement and table arrangements.

Dev Griffin said: “”With Mother’s Day looking very different this year, I’m really excited to be working with OpenTable to help those taking to the kitchen create the ultimate at-home dining experience for their mums.

My top tip would be that preparation is key for relieving pressure in the kitchen – and also helps avoid any disasters! Anything that can be done the day before, whether that’s chopping vegetables, preparing ingredients or rustling up a quick sauce, will be a massive help for making sure everything goes smoothly on the big day. And don’t forget to tidy up afterwards – don’t ruin the at-home dining illusion by asking your mum to wash up!”

Lucy Taylor, VP EMEA, OpenTable commented: “Mother’s Day is one of the biggest dates in the culinary calendar. However with restaurants closed this year, families across the country will be turning to their own kitchens in order to treat mum to a special meal. Whatever your experience in the kitchen, cooking a meal, whether it’s a three-course spread or a simple brunch, can be daunting.

“After the unprecedented events of last year, for most this Mother’s Day will be more poignant than ever, and with dining out not an option, we wanted to provide another way to connect restaurants and diners to share their expertise. We’re delighted to have Dev and our industry experts ready and waiting to provide advice as they help families across the country celebrate their Mums on this special day.”

The ‘Mum’s The Word’ hotline by OpenTable will be live from 9am to 12pm on Sunday 14thMarch and anyone will be able to dial in via Skype by calling the following number: 020 3239 0888