Meet the Chef

Head Chef
Gary O'Hanlon   

 

 Donegal man Gary O'Hanlon has been delighting visitors to VM Restaurant at Viewmount House since he took charge of the kitchen in 2008. Originally from Ramelton, (near Letterkenny) Gary previously worked at the Olde Post restaurant Cloverhill and at the Lobster Pot restaurant in Galway Bay Hotel. Prior to returning to Ireland Gary was head chef at "Devlins" restaurant in Boston.

In terms of cullinary style, Gary has fused his knowledge of traditional Irish cooking with the skill he honed in Boston, and brings both to bear on the preparation of fine fresh Irish ingredients. The result is a repertoire of modern classic dishes which never fail to disappoint and have helped to make VM Restaurant at Viewmount House a destination in its own right

In Conversation

 

Food at  "VM" is?       

Traditional Irish cooking with a modern twist using seasonal ingredients (organic where possible)                                                                              

Signature Dish ?

Anise Orange Duck Leg Confit on a Baby Beet, shiitake & Sherry Ragout

Biggest Influence on your career ?

From an early age Bernadette McLoughlin & Frank Casey at the Rosapenna Hotel in Donegal. Tom Devlin, Chef owner of Devlins Restaurant in Boston showed me just what it takes to make a restaurant work and to think outside the kitchen. Dan Murphy of the Galway Bay Hotel makes an extremly difficult job look easy. Fantastic drive to achieve the highest standards possible and a true gentleman.
Favourite Food ?  Duck Confit
C'ant live without ?  Red Bull & Football
Favourite Drink ?  Sam Adams Boston Larger & Mojito's @ the Venetian Las Vagas
Favourite Restaurant? Thornton's, Clio and Sonsie in Boston, Aqua in San Francisio

Best Chef you have worked with ?

Garreth Galligan : Head chef at the Olde Post, gives hard work at the highest level a new meaning. Never has an off day.

Barry Hearns : Head Chef at the Galway Bay hotel, the calmest Chef under pressure you will ever have the pleasure of working with.
Dream Dinner Guest ? Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White just to see the Fireworks. Conrad Gallagher because, for me, he is still the best chef to have ever graced Ireland. Eric Cantona and Roy Keane, put simply, two gods.
Most Memorable Meal ?  A X-mas Eve feast at my friend Pat Saiya's home in Boston. A six hour seafood dinner topped off with her infamous Meat pie, has to be tasted to be believed. Her cooking is wasted in the home kitchen, genius palate.
When you are not working ? Watching Football. Cinema and eating out.