Matador
One of the superstar residents from Enter shows us round his kitchen…
Your perfect breakfast would be…
Easy. Crispy smoked bacon with scrambled eggs, then to follow some granola and yoghurt to combat against heartburn from my previous course!!
The most unusual thing I have ever eaten…
Last weekend we were pressed with a few unusual combinations, a mango foam alongside frites…brains and all sorts of unusual offal. I love to try new foods and combinations, food can become quite repetitive unless you take risks with an open mind!
The dish that reminds me of my childhood
Lasagne and chips!! Bosh!! I still cook it today with a similar technique that my mother uses, easy sloppy comfort food, bliss!!
Who taught you to cook?
Like most chefs, learning starts at home with your mum, and that’s where it all started for me. As soon as I figured out this is how my dinner is determined, I wanted to be involved!
Why is Sake such a good drink for nightclubs?
Did you ever hear the expression ‘It’s a different kinda drunk’? We use the phrase quite a bit here in Ireland to describe new drinking experiences. Well it’s just that with sake!! It’s quite a smooth little number that creeps up on you and you’re giddy and smiley all of a sudden with the urge to dance like an out of control Kevin Bacon in Footloose!! Ideal for any club situation, don’t you think!?
My favourite ENTER Sake is…
All of ‘em
A DJ that has surprised you with their cooking skills…what did they coo
Mr Hawtin ain’t too bad behind the stove by any means. The first time I met the Minus crew was at a dinner in Richie’s house in Berlin a few years back. Himself and Laura put together a very competent Japanese themed menu, there were some tricky items on the menu that need to be cooked ‘a la minute’ – and each course was comfortably nailed. not an easy feat for any cook especially when it’s for 14 people!
Your guilty pleasure food. You know you shouldn’t but you always do…
There are quite a few things I eat that by most people standards are considered a guilty pleasure, I’m a pig when it comes to chocolate, I always have been and it ain’t changing anytime soon. So I won’t slip into a bikini, big fucking deal! Enjoy yourself…life is for living!
What is your signature dish?
I rarely cook something that I don’t love to eat myself. Lately putting together a good selection of tapas which seems to be working, always does in the summer months. Cooking from scratch is a big thing for me and always has been, no shortcuts!
If you could have a master-class with a celebrity chef, who’d you pick and why?
Micheal Roux Jnr. He comes from the hierarchy when it comes to chefs. A true legend in his own right and I imagine him to be a fantastic person to learn from and work with
Dead or alive – your perfect dinner party guests?
Mickey Flanagan, Billy Connolly and MC Grindah from ‘People Just Do Nothing’
A dish you have yet to master…
If there’s a recipe with good instructions it’s hard to fuck up. However in my early days of cooking mistakes were a plenty, but as the years go on and you gain experience, you leave very little room for error
Your favourite pizza topping
Chorizo and a good quality mozzarella, very important!
The country you love returning to, to sample their cuisine…
Argentina, I’m a red meat man!!! Those folks don’t mess about when it comes to beef!!
My favourite restaurant in Ibiza
I always try to eat local wherever I am, it’s a way to ensure your eating fresh food as appose to stuff that’s travelled as much as I have to get there. When I think Ibiza, I think seafood…gambas or any crustacean!! Put a bucked of ‘em in front of me with a wedge of lemon and some simple local salads and I’m a happy man. Thankfully you don’t have to go far to find places that serve this, Fish Shack is the best example of this
The best sunset spot for a cold drink…
I guess the most stereotypical place is Cafe del Mar in San Antonio, and I think everyone should experience it there at least once. It’s has a good atmosphere with some colourful characters scattered amongst the crowd. There are some amazing secluded spots on that side of the island that allow you to capture the sunsets in a much more tranquil settling. Explore the island, there so much more to be seen!!!