Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Mullingar girl prepares for Culinary Olympics in India

By Claire Corrigan
Amanda Sharkey had spent all of her life wanting to be a nurse, but after spending a mere three days working at the Annebrook House Hotel, the Mullingar girl was offered a job by one of Ireland’s top chefs, Paul Philips, who described the novice as a “natural.”
Since then, Amanda’s love of the art of cooking has grown and the student has been selected to travel to India on the 26 January to take part in the Young Chef Olympiad 2017 where she will represent Ireland.
This is not 19-year-old Amanda’s first taste of success. The second year Culinary Arts student at Dublin Institute of Technology took gold in two competitions last year – Chef Ireland in February and Catex in March. She then took part in another competition for YesChef magazine, winning a week’s placement in a five-star hotel in Scotland.
The culinary wizard now resides in Tallaght where she works in the über-stylish Peachtree East. Within weeks of opening, Tallaght’s newest restaurant was already being recognised as the area’s best for homemade pastries and coffee, fine dining and cocktails, and customers have been flocking to sample the beautifully crafted food ranking as the number one restaurant in Tallaght on TripAdvisor.
“My boss (Paul Philips) who I used to work with in the Annebrook House Hotel, opened his own restaurant here, so I moved up for a job,” said Amanda.
“My whole life I wanted to be a nurse and never thought about being a chef but I had to do three days of work experience when I was in fifth year and I did it in the Annebrook. The head chef Paul Philips said that I had a talent for cooking.”
This was praise from Caesar indeed, with Paul earning the title of 2006 Junior All-Ireland Chef of the year and 2010 Senior All Ireland Chef of the Year. Overall, the chef has a received a remarkable 26 accolades for his talents. “He offered me a job, so I was there from then on. He said he could see himself in me when he was my age!” she laughed.
When Paul opened the restaurant in Dublin, he was sure to offer his young protégé a position. “I’m extremely close to my Mam so in terms of that, I had to think about it, but it was an offer I couldn’t really refuse. It was such a good job and in Dublin there are so many ways I can grow, so it was kind of a no-brainer.”
Amanda said that her particular speciality is giving traditional dishes a modern twist. “I love to experiment with new flavours and you can develop something. We do a new menu every few months, and if the boss needs ideas, he’ll always encourage us to make suggestions.”
Her days are jam-packed between college and her job at the restaurant, but she admits it’s a labour of love. “I’m in college during the week and work evenings and weekends, but because it’s what I do in college, it’s not too much of a strain.”
On her upcoming adventure, she said she is thrilled to be taking part in such a prestigious competition. “I never thought I’d be picked to do such a thing or to represent Ireland, so it’s a real privilege to be picked to go.”
In a series of culinary challenges, young chefs from over sixty countries will take part in Young Chef Olympiad 2017.
The event takes place over four days from 29 January to 1 February, with the grand finale of the Young Chef Olympiad 2017 to take place in Kolkata, India, on 1 February.

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