Dylan McGrath

Dylan McGrath
Born	Dublin
Nationality	Irish
Education	Catering college
Occupation	Chef
Employer	Self-employed
Known for	Michelin star

Dylan McGrath is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef. He was the owner of the now defunct Michelin star Mint Restaurant in Dublin. He recently opened 'Rustic Stone Restaurant by Dylan McGrath' on Georges Street in Dublin's City Centre and has been announced by RTÉ One as the Judge on the new Irish version of the hit show Masterchef. He has appeared in the 2008 RTÉ One television series Guerrilla Gourmet and in the fly on the wall series The Pressure Cooker. Image food critic Domini Kemp considers him a "creative genius",^[1] whilst Derry Clarke has called him a "brilliant young chef".^[2]

Style

McGrath's cooking style is centered around visually attractive dishes cooked correctly. But for Guerilla Gourmet he served his food in darkness so that his guests could "hone their taste buds".^[3][4]

Early life

McGrath was born in Dublin and lived in Carlow till the age of six.^[5] He was brought up in West Belfast before attending catering college.^[3] He later travelled to the United Kingdom in search of a career where he worked under notable chefs including John Burton Race and Tom Aikens.^[5]

Career

Guerrilla Gourmet

McGrath appeared on the television series, Guerrilla Gourmet, which was broadcast on RTÉ One in early 2008. The premise of the programme was that professional chefs set up temporary "guerrilla restaurants" at an unusual location of their own choosing.^[6] McGrath featured on the sixth and final episode of the series.^[3] He chose a dark room in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin as his temporary restaurant venue, serving a menu of lemongrass and pomegranate dessert. One week after filming an episode for this show, McGrath received his first ever Michelin star.^[4]

In 2010 McGrath opened Rustic Stone Restaurant. ^[7]

Controversies

McGrath has been involved in numerous controversies, mainly with his fellow chefs. Whilst promoting Guerrilla Gourmet, he appeared on the television chat show Tubridy Tonight and sparked off a fight with his rival chef Kevin Dundon over his mistreatment of staff in his Pressure Cooker show, a fight which was described by the Irish Independent as being serious enough to "[achieve] the rare feat of having that show discussed at water coolers days later".^[4][8] Relieved of the pressure to obtain a Michelin star, he has softend a bit.^[9]

References

1. ^ "About". RTÉ. Accessed 25 April 2009.
2. ^ "Michelin star not enough to save McGrath's Mint". Evening Herald. 23 April 2009. http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/michelin-star-not-enough-to-save-mcgraths-mint-1716890.html. Retrieved 25 April 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Programme 6". RTÉ. Accessed 25 April 2009.
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Dining in the dark". Irish Independent. 26 February 2008. http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/food-drink/dining-in-the-dark-1297965.html. Retrieved 24 April 2009. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "Doors closed at McGrath's star eaterie". Evening Herald. 22 April 2009. http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/doors-closed-at-mcgraths-star-eaterie-1715472.html. Retrieved 25 April 2009. 
6. ^ "Guerrilla Gourmet hits the ring". The Munster Express. 10 January 2008. http://www.munster-express.ie/entertainment/guerrilla-gourmet-hits-the-ring/. Retrieved 25 April 2009. 
7. ^ Rustic Stone
8. ^ Review of The Pressure Cooker Accessed 28 May 2001.
9. ^ Return of the enfant terrible of Irish cuisine Accessed 28 May 2001.

External links

• Mint Restaurant
• Rustic Stone

Persondata
Name	Macgrath, Dylan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth	Dublin
Date of death
Place of death