People

Euro-toques
Euro-toques Ireland has a full-time Executive responsible for member services, policy development, lobbying and event management. The activities of the organisation are overseen by a Board of Commissioners, made up of chefs from around the country. Food Policy, lobbying and activities relating to food producers are guided by the Food Committee, with representatives in each region.

 

 

 

 


Ruth Hegarty, Secretary-General

Ruth HegartyRuth Hegarty has been with Euro-toques Ireland since early 2004; initially as Project Coordinator for their Small Food Initiative, linking chefs with their local food producers, and taking up the position of Secretary-General in July 2004. Having both family background and personal experience in the food production and restaurant industries Ruth is passionate about food and in 2001 completed a thesis entitled; 'European Food Quality Policy; Protecting Europe's Traditional and Speciality Foods' as part of a Master in European Economic and Public Affairs. Her role in the organisation includes policy development, lobbying, PR & Event Management and financing, as well as membership services.

 

 

Gearoid Lynch , Commissioner-General

Gearoid Lynch is the chef and patron of The Olde Post Inn in Cloverhill, Co. Cavan, which he opened along with his wife, Tara, in 2002.  Gearoid won the prestigious title of the Euro-toques Young Chef of the Year in 2000 while working in Le Coq Hardi in Dublin, and since then has been a committed member of Euro-toques. He studied at the Tourism College in Killybegs, Co. Donegal from 1995-1997 and gained valuable kitchen experience in restaurants both home and away.  His time abroad includes Pied a Terre in London, and Restaurant Lea Linster in Luxembourg.  In Ireland, Gearoid worked in Thornton's Restaurant and Le Coq Hardi in Dublin, as well as in The Oak Room restaurant in Cavan, before finally opening his own venture at The Olde Post Inn. Gearoid and Tara were gracious hosts of the 2011 AGM in February at The Olde Post Inn, and it proved to be a big night for Gearoid not only catering for his fellow Euro-toques chef members and their guests, but also being appointed Commissioner-general of Euro-toques Ireland for a 2 year tenure.

Commissioner-General Gearoid Lynch's Welcome


Myrtle Allen, Founder

Myrtle AllenMyrtle Allen is founding member of Euro-toques International and founder of Euro-toques Ireland. In 1986 she was invited by Belgian Chef Pierre Romeyer, along with such big name European Chefs as Paul Bocuse (France), Gualtiero Marchesi (Italy) and Juan-Mari Arzak (Spain), to found an organisation of professional cooks which would promote and protect Europe's culinary heritage and defend the quality of food. She returned home and called together prominent Irish colleagues to found the Irish branch of The European Community of Cooks the same year. Myrtle Allen is chef/proprietor of the famed Ballymaloe House, her home which she opened as a restaurant in 1964, and founder, with her daughter-in-law Darina Allen, of Ballymaloe Cookery School. She has garnered many accolades, both for her wonderful food and hospitality at Ballymaloe House, and for her work in promoting Irish food, including running an Irish restaurant 'La Ferme Irlandaise' in Paris for 5 years. In 2000 she was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from UCC. She remains an active and strong presence within the organisation, and continues her role as both a Commissioner and a Food Committee member.

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