Charlie Ward of Rathkeale is among five young chefs who have been selected by Bord Iascaigh Mhara ((BIM) as Ambassadors for this years Taste the Atlantic, Young Chef Ambassador Programme.
Charlie, 20, is Commis chef at the Mustard Seed in Ballinagarry. Combining his passion for sports and fitness with his love of all things culinary, Charlie would love to promote the pleasure and nutritional benefit of eating fish more to the young people in Ireland.
The others chosen are Anna O’Leary, 22, (Cork), Liam Britchfield, 24, (Wicklow), Aoife O’Donnell, 23, (Donegal) an Ian Harford, 24, (Dublin).
Following applications from all over Ireland, the appointed chefs were selected based on their applications, followed by an interview process.
The ambitious Ambassadors will now embark on a four-month programme to familiarise themselves with Ireland’s premium seafood and the people who produce it along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The chefs recently came together for their induction to the Ambassador programme, which will include visits to several seafood producers in Kerry, Cork and Galway to learn all about oyster and mussel farming, the art of seafood smoking, fish mongering skills and recipe creation.
The immersive BIM programme, in collaboration with Chef Network and Fáilte Ireland, is now in its fourth year.
It is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF).