Chef Liam misses out on top spot

Liam McEvoy was awarded the bronze medal in the IFEX Chef of the Year competition.

The 27-year-old is head chef at The Stables and is a previous silver award winner in the competition.

His four course menu including beef carpaccio, confit of duck, Lobster and chocolate and beetroot brownie was narrowly beaten by chefs from Belfast's Merchant Hotel and the five star Lough Erne Golf Resort.

"The dishes had to be made with ingredients sourced from Northern Ireland," said Liam.

"I grow my own herbs and got some of the ingredients from Lough Neagh, but they were all in season and locally sourced.

"The competition was fierce and as soon as I started I cut my finger with the knife - I haven't cut myself in a kitchen for years, but there is something about competitions that get the nerves going."

Liam travelled to the finals with his family, the Larkfield Meadows man is set to marry Donna Ryan in a weeks time.

He went on: "Most of the other chefs had their own team of professional cooks behind them to help with preparation.

"I went there with my family and parents and did all my own work - one of the judges even asked where The Stables was.

"It was great to have them alongside me, they have always been a great support to me and they deserve the praise as well.

"The dishes all went down very well, bronze is a great achievement but it's the gold I want and I won't rest until I get it."

Liam also features in this year's Yes Chef Cook for Ulster magazine. The annual publication features some of the best chefs from across the province.

Some have even gone on to feature in the BBC programme, Great British Menu.

It's a long way since Liam's days peeling potatoes at The Stables as a teenager. Following stints in the Yellow Door and in London's Earl Spencer under the tutelage of mentor Mark Robinson he returned to The Stables where he has been for the past five years.

"It was my granny that got me into cooking, to this day I still remember getting fresh made sodas straight off the griddle with melting butter.

"Since then I have always wanted to cook the same rustic flavours."

Liam takes his cooking home with him and makes sure his children, five-year-old Callum and 18-week-old Evarose eat only the best.

"We have no chocolate around the house, Callum loves vegetables and fruits and he wouldn't want sweets.

"I would love it if he followed me into cooking - but at the moment he wants to be a wrestler or a skate-boarder."

Liam, along with friend and head chef in Armagh's Uluru Bistro, Dean Coppard, have started off an Armagh culinary team to help promote the county's produce and chefs. They are planning school visits to promote healthy living along with other special events.

Liam concluded: "I would love to open my own seafood restaurant. One day it will come - it's all about keeping the fire alight."