Matt Dowling
Matt Dowling | |
---|---|
Born | 1945 (age 76–77) |
Nationality | Irish |
Occupation | Chef |
Known for | Michelin star |
Matt Dowling (born 1945 in Crumlin, Dublin) is an Irish head chef. He was leading the kitchen brigade of the Michelin-starred The Russell Hotel in Dublin, County Dublin, when it earned his star in 1974.[1][2]
Dowling started his career as a 14-year-old boy, in 1960, as a kitchen hand in The Russell Hotel.[3] After six months, he started his formal training and worked his way through the different parts of the kitchen. In 1965, he became a full chef.[4] He was head chef in 1974 when The Russel Hotel earned his Michelin star, just before it closed.[5]
After the closure of The Russel Hotel, Dowling moved to the "Sachs Hotel". He worked there for four years as head chef, until that hotel closed too.[6] From there he went to Leinster House as a head chef. In 1980, Dowling left there to take up a position at a training school of CERT (now Failte Ireland).[7][8] Around 1978, he took part in the "advanced cookery courses for senior chefs" from Jimmy Kilbride to modernise his skills and theoretical knowledge.[9] In a later stage, Dowling was invited to do some television work. It turned out to become much more and he took part in TV-series as and Live at 3. Dowling used those shows for the courses he was giving. Trainees would often help him with research and preparations, which served as a huge moral booster for the trainees.[10]
In 1978, he joined the , an organization aiming to improve chef standards and to promote Irish food by taking part in (international) competitions.[11][12]
As part of his job at Failte Ireland, Dowling often acts as judge in cooking competitions, like the Rotary Club Young Chef Competition.[13]
Dowling was, as commis chef, involved in the state dinner for US president Kennedy during his visit to Ireland in 1963.[14]
Awards[]
- 1974: Michelin star, The Russell Hotel
- ?: Silver medal with the Panel of Chefs at the competition in (the??) Olympia[15]
- ?: Gold medal with the Panel of chefs at the competition in Germany[16]
Personal[]
Dowling is married and has three children.[17]
References[]
- ^ Michelin Online Republic of Ireland Archived 2011-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Pierre Rolland: Ireland's First Michelin Star Chef. Mac Con Iomaire, M. (2004). Pierre Rolland: Ireland's First Michelin Star Chef. Hotel and Catering Review. Vol. 37, No. 12, p.45.
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 248
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 251
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 2, p. 289
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 260
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 261/262
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 267. Interview was in 2004.
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 264
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 266
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 267.
- ^ Panel of Chefs of Ireland Ltd. Archived 2012-03-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Budding chef Joel cooks up a storm in competition
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 259
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 267
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 267
- ^ Iomaire Mac Con. Volume 3, p. 261
- Sources
- Irish chefs
- Irish television personalities
- Living people
- 1945 births
- Head chefs of Michelin starred restaurants