Leading Belfast chef and restaurateur Niall McKenna has been named in the new year honours list. receiving an MBE for services to hospitality and tourism.
For the last 21 years he has poured his passion into pushing the city’s restaurant scene forward, championing innovation, local produce and first-class hospitality, whist inspiring and spurring on the next generation of young chefs.
The opening of his first restaurant, James Street South, in 2003 signalled a step change in the Belfast food scene.
In the years since, Niall and his wife Joanne have expanded their business, opening The Bar and Grill at James Street, followed by Hadski’s on Commercial Court, Cast & Crew in Titanic Quarter, and most recently, Waterman on Hill Street, which is also home to their popular Cookery School.
- Chef Niall McKenna on his first cookbook and his plans for a new Belfast restaurantOpens in new window
- Warm up this winter with Niall McKenna’s pork belly & spiced plum sauce, plus rum & raisin bread & butter puddingOpens in new window
- Secrets of cooking the perfect Chateaubriand and elevating it further with peppercorn and Béarnaise sauces - Niall McKennaOpens in new window
Whilst varying in style, McKenna’s unwavering commitment to quality and showcasing local produce from the best Northern Ireland producers has been at the heart of every endeavour.
In 2010 he appeared on the BBC TV series Great British Menu, where his dessert was served at the series finale banquet, and in 2014, he was named Northern Ireland Tourism Hero at the NI Tourism Awards.
Education and training have been a core focus throughout his career, and for the last eight years, Niall has led a dedicated in-house apprenticeship scheme. He has also been a visiting professor at University of Ulster since 2017.
Earlier this year, McKenna - who also provides a weekly recipe column in the Irish News - released his debut cookbook, sharing a handpicked collection of recipes for iconic dishes from his popular Belfast restaurants, including James Street, Hadskis and Waterman.
Featuring 140 recipes served over the last 20 years across Niall’s five restaurants, the book – in its tongue-in-cheek title and throughout its 300 pages - asks one question: What’s it all About?
McKenna said: “Belfast has changed so much over the years, and I’m proud to have played a part in that. Belfast’s world-famous hospitality has put our city on the map. We now have a restaurant and food scene here to rival the best on a national and international stage.
“This honour is a testament to the hard work and dedication of so many, who share our desire to bring Belfast on, and make this a city we can be proud to call home. But the most important thing to me is that we’ve stayed true to what we believe in - good food, good people, and hard work.”