Michael O'Hare (chef)

Michael O'Hare
Born Eston, North Yorkshire, England (Age 34/35)[1]
Spouse(s) Amanda Gilby (fiancée)
Website The Man Behind The Curtain

Culinary career

Michael O'Hare is a British chef from Redcar, North Yorkshire, England.[2] He is chef-patron at The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds, which was awarded a Michelin star in October 2015.[3][4] He is also Creative Director of GG Hospitality and is overseeing the company's new restaurant The Rabbit in the Moon set to open at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

O'Hare began cooking whilst at university before becoming a professional chef, gaining experience at various restaurants including John Burton-Race at The Landmark and Noma.

Early life and career

O'Hare was born in Eston, North Yorkshire, England. He describes Redcar, North Yorkshire as his home town.[2] From the age of 11 to 18 he studied classical and modern ballet.[1] He briefly studied aerospace engineering at Kingston University, London, deciding to leave the course after a few months.[5][6]

It was during his time at university at the age of 19 that O'Hare began cooking: "I just liked going to the supermarket. I wasn't making sauces and all that. Just buying a bit of fish and grilling it.”[1]

Instead of attending catering college, he decided to begin his cooking career learning within professional kitchens, with his first job at Judges in Yarm.[7] Other restaurants where he worked include Seaham Hall, working for John Burton-Race at The Landmark and Noma before becoming head chef at The Blind Swine in York.[5][7][1][6]

In 2014, O'Hare opened his restaurant The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds, where he is chef-patron.[8]

He has gained a reputation for creative and often unusual dishes. These include chocolate pudding with potato foam, raw prawn tails with cooked prawn brains and a desert with baked potato custard.[1][9][1] In 2015, O'Hare took part in BBC2's The Great British Menu where he made a dish entitled 'Emancipation' - a fish dish inspired by fish and chips served on a canvas.[10][11]

GG Hospitality

In 2016, O'Hare became Creative Director of GG Hospitality, a company created by ex-professional footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.[12] The company, along with O'Hare, are set to open a 'space-age Asian' restaurant called The Rabbit in the Moon at the National Football Museum in Manchester in 2016.[13] O'Hare is also due to set up a fine dining restaurant - The Man Who Fell To Earth, within a new Manchester hotel owned by GG Hospitality.[7]

Kit Kat

In October 2016, O'Hare helped to launch a pop-up Kit Kat Chocolatory at Westfield Stratford City by making two limited edition Kit Kats of chilli with mint and dandelion and burdock for the store.[14]

Media

O'Hare competed in BBC2's The Great British Menu in 2015. In 2016, he appeared on BBC's Masterchef.[9] He has also appeared as a guest chef on BBC's Saturday Kitchen,[15] and on Yes Chef in 2016 on BBC One.[16] In 2016, he returned to The Great British Menu as a judge.[17][18]

Personal life

O'Hare lives in Prestbury and has a fiancée Amanda.[7] They are expecting their first child.[19] O'Hare has become well known for his individual personal style. He became instantly recognisable with his 'rockstar hair' after his appearance on The Great British Menu and says “I know for a fact there could have been TV shows off the back of that haircut.”[10][20] He is a qualified pilot, gaining his licence in Daytona a few years after leaving university.[5][6]

Television

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Walsh, John (9 October 2015). "Why chef Michael O'Hare put potato custard and a laxative on the menu". The Independent. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 Blackburn, Mike (8 October 2015). "See Great British Menu chef Michael O'Hare's dramatic new look". gazettelive. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  3. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/trending/michael-steps-from-behind-curtain-to-bring-michelin-star-to-leeds-1-7464714
  4. http://foodanddrink.yorkshirepost.co.uk/food/the-man-behind-the-curtain-michael-ohare/
  5. 1 2 3 Lutrario, Joe. "Michael O'Hare: The man behind the hype". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Hudson, Neil (8 September 2015). "The Man behind the Curtain: Michael O'Hare - Yorkshire Food & Drink". Yorkshire Food & Drink. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Hughes, Mike. "The man behind the phenomenon". www.bqlive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. "The Man Behind The Curtain | Michael O'Hare | Leeds". The Staff Canteen. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  9. 1 2 Corking, Graham (3 May 2016). "Michael O'Hare's MasterChef appearance splits viewers". gazettelive. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 Blackburn, Mike (8 October 2015). "Great British Menu chef Michael O'Hare CHOPS OFF rockstar locks". mirror. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  11. "Great British Menu - Emancipation - BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. Witts, Sophie. "Michelin chef Michael O'Hare teams up with Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  13. Witts, Sophie. "Michael O'Hare to open Manchester restaurant". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  14. Johnston, Alice. "Are these the poshest Kit Kats ever?". Mail Online. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  15. Corner, Natalie (17 October 2015). "Great British Menu chef Michael O'Hare doesn't look like this anymore". mirror. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  16. "Aiden Byrne of Manchester House to star in BBC One series, Yes Chef - Hospitality & Catering News". Hospitality & Catering News. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  17. Cousins, Graeme. "Meet the three Northern Ireland chefs aiming to impress the judges in this week's Great British Menu". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  18. Love, Laura (9 October 2016). "Great British Menu: Michael O'Hare expected to return this week". gazettelive. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  19. "Michael O'Hare on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  20. Lytton, Charlotte. "Michelin-starred chef Michael O'Hare: 'Feminism does me in'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 October 2016.

External links

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