Culinary star Alex in running for chef of the year award

11 November 2020

THERE’S still time to vote for Dundrum chef Alex Greene who has been shortlisted for a national chef of the year award.

The 30 year-old from Michael Deane’s Eipic restaurant in Belfast is one of six chefs shortlisted for the title in the prestigious Staff Canteen Awards 2020.

The chef, who succeeded in getting two dishes through to the Great British Banquet earlier this year, is up against chefs such as chef and restauranteur Tom Kerridge and Matt Abe, co-chef patron of Restaurant Gordon Ramsey.

He is the only chef from Northern Ireland to be included.

The award is seen as an industry accolade and is voted by the Staff Canteen audience for whom they believe has been the biggest influence this year, either as a mentor, a culinary leader, or innovator that has inspired the industry or simply a chef they have admired from afar.

Alex announced his delight at being shortlisted on Instagram.

He said: “To say I’m shocked and totally blown away by the support I’ve received for this would be an understatement.

“I’ve just been shortlisted from a selection of some of the best chefs in the UK and I’m totally humbled, so thank you to everyone that has voted for me so far, you are amazing.”

It’s the latest achievement for the chef who started his career in the Buck’s Head restaurant in his home village.

He was recently ranked by the Michelin Guide in the top 10 chefs to follow on Instagram — alongside leading UK chefs such as Antrim native Claire Smyth, Angela Hartnett and Jason Atherton.

Alex wowed judges and guests in the Great British Menu competition with his starter and dessert dishes which were inspired by children’s literature.

His starter was a potato and cheese sauce based dish inspired by CS Lewis’ book, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe while his winning dessert was a coconut and chocolate ganache dessert with edible rice pages and covers presented as a book inspired by Oliver Jeffers’ book, The Incredible Book Eating Boy.

There is limited time to vote for Alex at www.thestaffcanteen.com/chef-of-the-year/nominations#/ as voting closes later today.

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