Gary O’Hanlon and Marco Pierre White.
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
TODAY (Thursday) Donegal celebrity chef Gary O’Hanlon wraps up his second season of TV3’s The Restaurant. Over the past two weeks the Ramelton man has been working a gruelling filming schedule for the new series which will air in January.
Gary has been involved with the programme since 2011, having been cast by former producer, Caitríona McBride from Gaoth Dobhair. He became a full member for this year’s first and very successful season with TV3. While the new season will feature a diverse group of celebrities, The Restaurant has also moved to a new location.
Leaving their long-time home, The Wineport Lodge in Athlone, Co Westmeath, behind them, The Restaurant was filmed in Courtyard Bar & Grill in Donnybrook.
The well-known Dublin restaurant is owned by Marco Pierre White who has also become involved in the VIP Productions programme. “The new kitchen we are working in is bigger and better and getting to work with the, without question, biggest name in the world of cooking has been just incredible. I had lunch with Marco the other day and we sat and talked, chef to chef, for over an hour and a half; I actually had to pinch myself a few times.”
As Donegal’s Food Ambassador, Gary is also heavily involved in the A Taste of Donegal Food Festival (www.atasteofdonegal.com) which takes place in Donegal town this weekend.
Read the full interview with Chef Gary O’Hanlon, only in tomorrow’s print edition of the Donegal News