WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COOKING, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? I first got into cooking when I was 16, 17, and that’s a long time ago now. It was home cooking really from my parents, and getting into industry and I enjoyed it. I’d already been working in the... View Article
WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COOKING, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? I have just always enjoyed cooking from a young age, and that continued when I studied home economics at Massereene Community College in Antrim. HAVE YOU ANY CULINARY QUALIFICATIONS? After Massereene, I went to Belfast Met when it was... View Article
WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COOKING, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? I was totally inspired by my mother, who is a really great cook, ensuring there is always good food on the table. Growing up, I loved the smell of cooking in the kitchen when she was making bread and... View Article
WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COOKING, AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? Basically my mother’s cooking; licking the spoon from the pavlova mix and watching her. And then, back in high school, we had home economics class before lunch so I thought it was a good idea to get a free... View Article
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Born in Paisley, Scotland and grew up in Magherafelt moving to Belfast at 18. WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET INTO COOKING AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU? I got into cooking from a young age at home but professionally at 18. I... View Article
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED? Born in Co Tyrone, in Donaghmore. Also where I grew up WHAT’S YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FOODIE EXPERIENCE? Cooking alongside Alain Passard. WHERE WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Peeling potatoes in local fish and chip shop. ASIDE FROM YOUR CURRENT ROLE, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE... View Article
YOU’VE SPENT 30 YEARS IN THE INDUSTRY, WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST NOTEWORTHY CHANGES ALONG THE WAY? Our industry has been in the midst of radical change for the last couple of years. As we have seen peace our tourism has started a journey of its own for the greater... View Article
“I just love cooking, it’s my passion,” says Katie Burns. “I just enjoy it, and I love trying new stuff out.” Katie is head chef at Town Sq on Botanic Avenue, the former Crescent Townhouse owned by Wine Inns which was taken over by businessman Peter Ringland in 2015. In... View Article
Marty Black is one of the lucky people who knew what he wanted to do in life when he was just a teenager. At just 15 years old, he started working part-time in The Other Place in south Belfast and it was there that he decided he wanted to train... View Article
Franck Brétéché, chef/owner of Mange Tout Deli in Downpatrick, talks to Sam Butler Frenchman Franck Brétéché has developed a successful career as a popular chef and owner of the award-winning Mange Tout café/deli in Downpatrick. However, Franck once had his sights set on a career in professional football and was... View Article
