Image: Rebecca Sweeney, Head Chef, Hooked Restaurant (Sligo); Stephen Cronin, Ballycotton, Cork; Roann Byrne, Louth; Torin Small, Fermanagh and Robin Martin, Kerry.
- Calling ambitious young chefs with a passion for Irish seafood.
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, in association with Chef Network has today (Friday 30 March) announced the 2023 Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador Programme is open for applications. The seafood mentoring programme, now in its third year, is aimed at ambitious young chefs. It will take them on an immersive journey, where they get first-hand experience of Irish seafood production along the Taste the Atlantic trail, part of the Wild Atlantic Way.
Each of the selected chefs will receive training and mentorship in social media, business, culinary and fish handling skills from experienced industry mentors. They will also be paired with a Taste the Atlantic producer to learn about the provenance of Irish seafood, broadening their knowledge and inspiring the creation of new Irish seafood recipes.
To date, ten chefs have completed the programme.
Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador from 2022, Becca Sweeney called on all young chefs and student chefs to take up the opportunity to apply.
“The overall experience of the Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador Programme is magnificent”, says Becca, who is now Head Chef of Sligo’s Hooked restaurant on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.
“It gave me great insight to the culinary world, outside of the kitchen. I have made connections throughout the food industry, developed my fish handling skills, and developed new relationships with local suppliers. I loved meeting seafood producers and understanding their process. As a result I have incorporated more local seafood on my menus and inspired my team through what I learned on the programme. I can’t encourage young chefs enough to apply. The programme has been a huge stepping-stone for my career. My fellow ambassadors and I created unforgettable memories”.
The BIM Taste the Atlantic Young Chef Ambassador programme is inviting applications for chefs aged between 18-24. The closing date for applications is 30 April 2023. Full details are available on www.chefnetwork.ie
The Young Chef Ambassador Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).
About BIM
BIM is leading and sustainably building the future of Irish seafood; its focus is on creating a talent pool for the seafood sector which will create employment, attract investment, and benefit coastal communities and the national economy. BIM is committed to innovation, as it researches and finds better, smarter, and more efficient ways of doing business. In terms of economic viability and improving the environmental performance of the industry, it shares expertise and insight with the industry for the betterment of all stakeholders. These commitments will deliver on BIM’s vision to lead the Irish Seafood sector through effective support and deep expertise, so that Ireland becomes the international leader in high value and differentiated products that satisfy the growing demand for healthy, safe, and sustainably produced seafood.
About Chef Network
Chef Network is an online community and professional network connecting chefs across the island of Ireland. Founded in 2016, Chef Network is open to chefs at all stages of their career from students to heads chefs, to retired chefs and across all sectors. Over 4,500 chefs across the island of Ireland are members of the Chef Network community. Chef Network builds on the camaraderie we see every day in our kitchens. Our online community provides a place where chefs can work together, learn from each other, and share knowledge, ideas & resources. Key focus areas for Chef Network activity are to build community and collaboration amongst chefs, promoting the chef profession and making the industry a great place to work, and education and professional development for chefs. www.chefnetwork.ie
About Taste the Atlantic
Taste the Atlantic – a Seafood Journey is a collaborative initiative between BIM and Fáilte Ireland to promote the fantastic seafood producers and their products along the trail.
The trail stretches south from wind swept Malin Head in Co. Donegal to beautiful Kinsale in Co. Cork, passing some of Ireland’s most breath-taking seascapes and landmarks, it’s a whole new way to experience the Wild Atlantic Way and to learn more about how Irish seafood is caught and farmed.