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Dylan McGrath is an award-winning ^[1] Irish celebrity chef. He is the owner of the now defunct Michelin star Mint Restaurant in Dublin and has appeared in the 2008 RTÉ One television series Guerrilla Gourmet and in the fly on the wall series The Pressure Cooker. McGrath is known for his attempts to serve food to his customers in complete darkness. He has been described as Ireland's most controversial celebrity chef, mainly stemming from his difficulties in establishing relationships with his staff and fellow chefs, ^[1] Image food critic Domini Kemp considers him a "creative genius",^[2] whilst Derry Clarke has called him a "brilliant young chef". ^[3]

Style

McGrath's cooking style is that of an artist and he is known to serve his food in darkness so that his guests can "hone their taste buds".^[4][5] He is known for his repeated attempts to attract the attention of his staff through the medium of loud words and actions. ^[1] McGrath is described as outspoken by the country's media and regularly becomes embroiled in heated arguments with his colleagues. ^[1]

Early life

McGrath was born in Carlow.^{[6 ]} He was brought up in West Belfast before attending catering college.^[4] He later travelled to the United Kingdom in search of a career where he worked under notable chefs including John Burton Race and Tom Aikens.^{[6 ]}

Career

Guerrilla Gourmet

McGrath appeared on the television series, Guerrilla Gourmet, which was broadcast on RTÉ One in early 2008. The premise of the programme was that professional chefs set up temporary "guerrilla restaurants" at an unusual location of their own choosing.^{[7 ]} McGrath featured on the sixth and final episode of the series.^[4] He chose a dark room in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin as his temporary restaurant venue, serving a menu of lemongrass and pomegranate dessert.^[4][8] One week after filming an episode for this show, McGrath received his first ever Michelin star.^[5]

Controversies

McGrath has been involved in numerous controversies, mainly with his fellow chefs. Whilst promoting Guerrilla Gourmet, he appeared on the television chat show Tubridy Tonight and sparked off a fight with his rival chef Kevin Dundon over his mistreatment of staff in his Pressure Cooker show, a fight which was described by the Irish Independent as being serious enough to "[achieve] the rare feat of having that show discussed at water coolers days later".^[5] McGrath also has a difficult relationship with Richard Corrigan, who labelled McGrath a "muppet" and suggested that he should work in theatre days after he had called Corrigan's food "simple and nice". ^[1] Patrick Guilbaud labelled McGrath "sad" on the RTÉ Radio 1 show, Conversations with Eamon Dunphy, after witnessing him shouting and swearing at his Mint staff. ^[1]

References

External links

• Mint Restaurant