Guerrilla Gourmet
Encyclopedia
Guerrilla Gourmet is an Irish
television series broadcast on RTÉ One
. The series features professional chefs from various backgrounds, such as Dylan McGrath
and Kevin Dundon
, who each take on a new challenge. Each episode sees a different chef try to construct a temporary "guerrilla restaurant" out of nothing, taking on the task of locating a premises, composing a menu, cooking the food to serve to the customers and finding the actual customers themselves. The six-part series began broadcasting on 11 February 2008 at 20:30. Locations featured include Blackrock College
, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the Rock of Cashel
.
. He regularly features on The Afternoon Show
and both owns and manages Dunbrody Country House Hotel
in County Wexford
alongside his wife Catherine. Dundon establishes a restaurant in Saint Saviour
's Boxing Club in Ballybeg
in the middle of Waterford
. Four of the fifty members of the boxing club prepare the food, including pigeon and tomato and poitín
soup, in the temporary kitchen.
The second episode features Denis Cotter
. He is described as a "vegetarian icon" and "hero to non meat eaters", beginning his career as a banker before quitting to form his own restaurant business. In 1993 he opened his award-winning Café Paradiso
restaurant in Cork
. Cotter's challenge sees him construct a "Gary Larson
-esque world where he turns reality inside out" – he establishes a vegetarian restaurant in Bandon
Mart to attract local beef farmers to try his vegetarian options. Cotter also has a fear of cattle.
The third episode features Kevin Thornton
. He is described as a "gastronomic
legend" in Ireland. He has a Michelin
star restaurant and is also fond of photography and scuba diving. His family includes one wife, two sons and two grandchildren. Thornton chooses to house his temporary restaurant at the Rock of Cashel
in County Tipperary
, having grown up in the area as a child. He cooks rabbit
, scallop
s and sea urchin
s for twenty-eight people without the use of electricity.
The fourth episode features Anita Thoma. She has spent much of her adult life engaged in the process of cooking, but only recently set up her own business in Dublin, Il Primo. Her father emigrated to Ireland from Switzerland
in the 1940s. She is described as being in possession of a Mediterranean menu and "personally sourced" Tuscan
wines. She blends food with performance so takes her temporary restaurant to Fossett's Circus.
The fifth episode features Dan Mullane
. He is from County Limerick
. He owns The Mustard Seed
restaurant and grows his ingredients in his own vegetable garden. He attended catering college after school and emphasisies "hospitality, generosity and the personal touch". He says he will never open another restaurant. Having boarded in Blackrock College
in Dublin, Mullane returns there with his temporary restaurant.
The sixth and final episode features Dylan McGrath
. He owns Mint Restaurant
in Ranelagh
, Dublin. He was brought up in West Belfast
before attending catering college. His cooking style is that of an artist and he is known to serve his food in darkness so that his guests can "hone their taste buds". McGrath chooses a dark room in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin as his temporary restaurant venue. One week after filming he received his first Michelin star and achieved further fame when he was involved in a fight with fellow chef, Kevin Dundon, on the live television chat show Tubridy Tonight
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
television series broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
. The series features professional chefs from various backgrounds, such as Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef. He was the owner of the now defunct Michelin star Mint Restaurant in Dublin. He recently opened 'Rustic Stone Restaurant by Dylan McGrath' on Georges Street in Dublin's City Centre and has been announced by RTÉ One as the Judge on the new...
and Kevin Dundon
Kevin Dundon
Kevin Dundon is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef, television personality and author, known for featuring on television series such as Guerrilla Gourmet and Heat. He is the author of the book, Full On Irish: Contemporary Creative Cooking and his recipes have been featured in publications such...
, who each take on a new challenge. Each episode sees a different chef try to construct a temporary "guerrilla restaurant" out of nothing, taking on the task of locating a premises, composing a menu, cooking the food to serve to the customers and finding the actual customers themselves. The six-part series began broadcasting on 11 February 2008 at 20:30. Locations featured include Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and the Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel , also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, South Tipperary.-History:...
.
Episodes
The first episode featured Kevin DundonKevin Dundon
Kevin Dundon is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef, television personality and author, known for featuring on television series such as Guerrilla Gourmet and Heat. He is the author of the book, Full On Irish: Contemporary Creative Cooking and his recipes have been featured in publications such...
. He regularly features on The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show was Raidió Teilifís Éireann's live flagship daytime show. It ran from 2004 until May 2010. The programme was dropped by RTÉ as part of its new season of television in 2010, to be replaced by two afternoon programmes 4 Daily presented by Maura Derrane and The Daily Show hosted by...
and both owns and manages Dunbrody Country House Hotel
Dunbrody Country House Hotel
Dunbrody Country House Hotel is an Irish Georgian manor turned-restaurant in Arthurstown in New Ross, County Wexford, owned by the award-winning Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and his wife Catherine...
in County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
alongside his wife Catherine. Dundon establishes a restaurant in Saint Saviour
Saint Saviour
-People:*Sanctus Salvator, a Latin dedication of churches or places to Jesus, translated in English as "Saint Saviour" or, more accurately, "Holy Saviour"*Saint Salvator of Horta, a Catalan saint*Saint Saviour -Schools:...
's Boxing Club in Ballybeg
Ballybeg
Ballybeg is a generic name given to small Irish towns. The name comes from the Gaelic words Baile Beag which literally means Little Town...
in the middle of Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
. Four of the fifty members of the boxing club prepare the food, including pigeon and tomato and poitín
Poitín
Poitín , anglicised as poteen, is a traditional Irish distilled, highly alcoholic beverage . Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot still and the term is a diminutive of the Irish word pota, meaning "pot"...
soup, in the temporary kitchen.
The second episode features Denis Cotter
Denis Cotter
Denis Cotter is an Irish celebrity chef, author, television personality and proprietor of the acclaimed vegetarian Café Paradiso restaurant in Cork City. He has published three cookbooks - "Cafe Paradiso Cookbook", "Paradiso Seasons" and "wild garlic, gooseberries...and me", and his fourth book is...
. He is described as a "vegetarian icon" and "hero to non meat eaters", beginning his career as a banker before quitting to form his own restaurant business. In 1993 he opened his award-winning Café Paradiso
Café Paradiso
Café Paradiso is an award-winning Irish restaurant located in Cork, County Cork. It specialises in vegetarian cuisine and the proprietor of this restaurant is the celebrity chef and television personality Denis Cotter. It has been featured in publications such as the Irish Independent, which...
restaurant in Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. Cotter's challenge sees him construct a "Gary Larson
Gary Larson
Gary Larson is the creator of The Far Side, a single-panel cartoon series that was syndicated internationally to newspapers for 15 years. The series ended with Larson's retirement on January 1, 1995. His 23 books of collected cartoons have combined sales of more than 45 million...
-esque world where he turns reality inside out" – he establishes a vegetarian restaurant in Bandon
Bandon
Bandon is the name of several places*Bandon, County Cork, Ireland*the River Bandon in Ireland*Bandon , former constituency in Ireland*Bandon, the old name of Surat Thani in Thailand**the Bandon Bay near Surat Thani...
Mart to attract local beef farmers to try his vegetarian options. Cotter also has a fear of cattle.
The third episode features Kevin Thornton
Kevin Thornton (chef)
Kevin Thornton is an Irish celebrity chef, radio and television personality and author, known for featuring on television series such as Guerrilla Gourmet and Heat and characterised by a supposed dislike of chips and confirmed dislike of pizza. He has written the book Food for Life and had his...
. He is described as a "gastronomic
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
legend" in Ireland. He has a Michelin
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
star restaurant and is also fond of photography and scuba diving. His family includes one wife, two sons and two grandchildren. Thornton chooses to house his temporary restaurant at the Rock of Cashel
Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel , also known as Cashel of the Kings and St. Patrick's Rock, is a historic site in Ireland's province of Munster, located at Cashel, South Tipperary.-History:...
in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, having grown up in the area as a child. He cooks rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
, scallop
Scallop
A scallop is a marine bivalve mollusk of the family Pectinidae. Scallops are a cosmopolitan family, found in all of the world's oceans. Many scallops are highly prized as a food source...
s and sea urchin
Sea urchin
Sea urchins or urchins are small, spiny, globular animals which, with their close kin, such as sand dollars, constitute the class Echinoidea of the echinoderm phylum. They inhabit all oceans. Their shell, or "test", is round and spiny, typically from across. Common colors include black and dull...
s for twenty-eight people without the use of electricity.
The fourth episode features Anita Thoma. She has spent much of her adult life engaged in the process of cooking, but only recently set up her own business in Dublin, Il Primo. Her father emigrated to Ireland from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the 1940s. She is described as being in possession of a Mediterranean menu and "personally sourced" Tuscan
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
wines. She blends food with performance so takes her temporary restaurant to Fossett's Circus.
The fifth episode features Dan Mullane
Dan Mullane
Daniel "Dan" Mullane is an Irish celebrity chef, television personality and proprietor of the restaurant, The Mustard Seed in Ballingarry, County Limerick. Himself and his cookery have featured on the RTÉ One television series Guerrilla Gourmet. He has received numerous awards, including Black &...
. He is from County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. He owns The Mustard Seed
The Mustard Seed (restaurant)
The Mustard Seed is an Irish restaurant located in Ballingarry, County Limerick. It specialises in growing its own ingredients and the proprietor of this restaurant is the celebrity chef and television personality Dan Mullane...
restaurant and grows his ingredients in his own vegetable garden. He attended catering college after school and emphasisies "hospitality, generosity and the personal touch". He says he will never open another restaurant. Having boarded in Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
in Dublin, Mullane returns there with his temporary restaurant.
The sixth and final episode features Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef. He was the owner of the now defunct Michelin star Mint Restaurant in Dublin. He recently opened 'Rustic Stone Restaurant by Dylan McGrath' on Georges Street in Dublin's City Centre and has been announced by RTÉ One as the Judge on the new...
. He owns Mint Restaurant
Mint Restaurant
Mint Restaurant was a Michelin star winning restaurant located in Ranelagh, Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was owned by the controversial celebrity chef Dylan McGrath...
in Ranelagh
Ranelagh
Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
, Dublin. He was brought up in West Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
before attending catering college. His cooking style is that of an artist and he is known to serve his food in darkness so that his guests can "hone their taste buds". McGrath chooses a dark room in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin as his temporary restaurant venue. One week after filming he received his first Michelin star and achieved further fame when he was involved in a fight with fellow chef, Kevin Dundon, on the live television chat show Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
.