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Michael O'Hare (chef)

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Michael O'Hare
BornJune 1981 (age 43)
Eston, North Yorkshire,[1] England
SpouseAmanda Gilby
Children1
Culinary career
Cooking styleFusion
Rating(s)
Previous restaurant(s)
WebsiteThe Man Behind The Curtain

Michael O'Hare (born June 1981) is a British chef from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, England.[1] He was chef-patron at The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds, which was awarded a Michelin star in October 2015.[2][3] He also ran The Rabbit in the Moon at the National Football Museum in Manchester.

O'Hare began cooking whilst at university before becoming a professional chef, gaining experience at various restaurants including John Burton-Race at The Landmark and Noma.

Early life and career

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O'Hare was born in Middlesbrough England. He describes Redcar, North Yorkshire, as his home town.[1] From the age of 11 to 18 he studied classical and modern ballet.[4] He briefly studied aerospace engineering at Kingston University, London, deciding to leave the course after a few months.[5][6] In his early twenties, he worked in a call centre in Thornaby-on-Tees for energy company nPower.

It was during his time at university at the age of 19 that O'Hare began cooking: "I just liked going to the supermarket. I wasn't making sauces and all that. Just buying a bit of fish and grilling it."[4]

Instead of attending catering college, he decided to begin his cooking career learning within professional kitchens, with his first job at Judges in Yarm.[7] Other restaurants where he worked include Seaham Hall, working for John Burton-Race at The Landmark and Noma before becoming head chef at The Blind Swine in York.[5][7][4][6]

In 2014, O'Hare opened his restaurant with the backing of Stephen Baylis, The Man Behind The Curtain in Leeds, where he was chef-patron.[8]

He has gained a reputation for creative and often unusual dishes. These include chocolate pudding with potato foam, raw prawn tails with cooked prawn brains and a dessert with baked potato custard.[4][9] In 2015, O'Hare took part in BBC2's The Great British Menu where he made a dish entitled 'Emancipation' – a fish dish inspired by fish and chips served on a canvas.[10][11]

GG Hospitality In 2016, O'Hare became Creative Director of GG Hospitality, a company created by ex-professional footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville.[12] The company, along with O'Hare, opened a 'space-age Asian' restaurant called The Rabbit in the Moon at the National Football Museum in Manchester on 3 January 2017.[13][14] O'Hare was also due to set up a fine dining restaurant – The Man Who Fell To Earth, and a less formal restaurant called Are Friends Electric within a new Manchester hotel at the Manchester Stock Exchange owned by GG Hospitality, but these did not open.[7][15]

In October 2023, O'Hare closed The Man Behind the Curtain, and opened a new restaurant called Psycho Sandbar in early 2024, this closed on the 3rd of October 2024 with O'Hare saying that the sudden closure of the restaurant was “reflective of the changing experience market we all live in”.[16][17][18]

Media

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O'Hare competed in BBC2's The Great British Menu in 2015. In 2016, he appeared on BBC's Masterchef.[9] He also made guest appearances on BBC's Saturday Kitchen[19] and on Yes Chef in 2016 on BBC One.[20] In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023 and 2024 he returned to The Great British Menu as a judge.[21][22]

Personal life

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O'Hare has one child.[23] O'Hare has become well known for his individual personal style. He became instantly recognisable with his 'rockstar hair' after his appearance on The Great British Menu and says “I know for a fact there could have been TV shows off the back of that haircut.”[10][24] He is a qualified pilot, gaining his licence in Daytona a few years after leaving university.[5][6]

Television

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  • The Great British Menu – 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023
  • Saturday Kitchen – 2015
  • Masterchef – 2016
  • Yes Chef – 2016

References

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  1. ^ a b c Blackburn, Mike (8 October 2015). "See Great British Menu chef Michael O'Hare's dramatic new look". gazettelive. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. ^ "News | Yorkshire Evening Post".
  3. ^ "The Man behind the Curtain: Michael O'Hare". 8 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Walsh, John (9 October 2015). "Why chef Michael O'Hare put potato custard and a laxative on the menu". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Lutrario, Joe (4 May 2016). "Michael O'Hare: The man behind the hype". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  6. ^ a b c Hudson, Neil (8 September 2015). "The Man behind the Curtain: Michael O'Hare – Yorkshire Food & Drink". Yorkshire Food & Drink. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. ^ a b c Hughes, Mike. "The man behind the phenomenon". www.bqlive.co.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  8. ^ "The Man Behind The Curtain | Michael O'Hare | Leeds". The Staff Canteen. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  9. ^ a b Corking, Graham (3 May 2016). "Michael O'Hare's MasterChef appearance splits viewers". gazettelive. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  10. ^ a b Blackburn, Mike (8 October 2015). "Great British Menu chef Michael O'Hare CHOPS OFF rockstar locks". mirror. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Great British Menu – Emancipation – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  12. ^ Witts, Sophie (8 January 2016). "Michelin chef Michael O'Hare teams up with Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  13. ^ Witts, Sophie (25 September 2016). "Michael O'Hare to open Manchester restaurant". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  14. ^ Harmer, Janet (23 December 2016). "Michael O'Hare's the Rabbit in the Moon to open with Giggs and Neville on 3 January". thecaterer.com. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  15. ^ Lovell, Lucy (23 December 2016). "The Rabbit In The Moon WON'T cater for vegetarians – here's why..." men. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  16. ^ "The Man Behind The Curtain: Leeds restaurant closes for Psycho Sandbar rebrand and hands back Michelin star".
  17. ^ "Michael O'Hare to relaunch the Man Behind the..." The Caterer. 23 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Psycho Sandbar: Michelin Star chef 'honoured'..." The Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Saturday Kitchen: 14/05/2016". BBC. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Aiden Byrne of Manchester House to star in BBC One series, Yes Chef – Hospitality & Catering News". Hospitality & Catering News. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  21. ^ Cousins, Graeme. "Meet the three Northern Ireland chefs aiming to impress the judges in this week's Great British Menu". www.newsletter.co.uk. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  22. ^ Love, Laura (9 October 2016). "Great British Menu: Michael O'Hare expected to return this week". gazettelive. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  23. ^ "Michael O'Hare on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  24. ^ Lytton, Charlotte (3 June 2016). "Michelin-starred chef Michael O'Hare: 'Feminism does me in'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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