Five young chefs have been selected for the 2024 Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador programme.
The five ambassadors will embark on a four-month programme to familiarise themselves with Ireland's "premium seafood", and the people who produce it along the west coast.
The immersive Bord Iascaigh Mhara programme, which is run with Chef Network and Fáilte Ireland, is now in its fourth year.
The five are:
Ian Harford (24) from Rush, Co Dublin who is currently Chef de Partie at Michelin-starred Aniar restaurant in Galway, where he has worked since January 2024. Ian is a committed chef who is passionate about promoting fishermen and farmers, whose work he feels is often underappreciated.
Anna O’Leary (22) from Kilmichael in West Cork who is the Baker & Pastry Chef at The Fig & Olive in Clonakilty. She also spends her time on her family’s farm where she grows her own herbs and vegetables and helps with their production of beef, lamb, chicken, eggs and honey.
Liam Britchfield ( 24) from Wicklow Town, who is Chef de Partie at Bastible in Dublin. When Liam is not in the kitchen, the sea, coast, nature and food all play a central role in his life. He spends much of his time shore and kayak fishing and foraging on the east coast, and has travelled and fished in Kerry and Donegal.
Aoife O’Donnell ( 23) from Maghery, Co Donegal who has worked over the past three years at Danny Minnie’s in Annagry and is now their fish chef. Aoife says she wants to work to feature more local seafood on menus and to give visitors and locals alike a real taste of Donegal.
Charlie Ward (20) from Rathkeale, Co Limerick, who is Commis chef at the Mustard Seed in Ballinagarry, Co Limerick. Combining his passion for sports and fitness with his love of all things culinary, Charlie would love to promote the pleasure and nutritional benefit of eating fish more to the young people in Ireland.
The Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
