THE ninth annual Murphia List, celebrating the best of Irish talent on London’s food and drink scene, has been released.
The 2023 list, published in association with Bord Bia, The Irish Food Board, was celebrated at a party held last night at The Bloomsbury Hotel in London.
The party was attended by chefs, restaurateurs and London’s food media and showcased some fantastic Irish produce such as grass-fed Irish Hereford beef, Clonakilty black pudding and native oysters.
This year’s publication sees 57 names on the prestigious list with nine new entries joining the ranks for the first time.
Additions include a clutch of chefs working at London’s top restaurants along with the head of an award-winning design agency and a hotel butler whose appearance on two TV documentaries have made him a star.
Adam Nevin, who has just been promoted to Head Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester, is one of two new chefs on the list to have trained up at the internationally renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork.
He joins fellow alumnus Conor Gadd, the Chef Owner at Islington’s Trullo.
Across town at Claridge’s, head butler Michael Lynch is another new name on the list and one familiar to those who’ve been watching the BBC’s The Mayfair Hotel Megabuild documentary this year.
It’s a busy time for many of the Murphia names.
Chef Patrick Powell, best known for his work at Allegra in Stratford, is about to open the Midland Grand Dining Room at St Pancras this spring.
Well-known pub landlord Oisin Rogers is gearing up to open his own pub in central London, while The Wolseley’s general manager Fergal Lee will be heading over to the city to open up The Wolseley City later this year.
Meanwhile, new entry Shayne Brady, of design studio BradyWilliams, is preparing himself for a guest TV judge spot on the BBC’s Interior Design Masters show.
Hot Dinners co-founder Catherine Hanly said: "Every year we love hearing about the creative contributions being made by Irish people to London hospitality.
“Whether they’re opening new restaurants, running fabulous pubs or serving up amazing food the London food and drink scene wouldn’t be the same without them."
Donal Denvir, Bord Bia’s UK General Manager added: “Bord Bia is thrilled to partner with Hot Dinners for this year’s acclaimed Murphia List.
“The event is a true celebration of the best of London’s Irish food and drink scene, shining a light on the wealth of talent and creativity Ireland brings to the city.”
The Murphia 2023 list in full...
Chefs
NEW: Adam Nevin – Head Chef: The Grill at the Dorchester
NEW: Fionnan Flood - Head Chef: The Chelsea Pig
NEW: Conor Gadd - Chef/Owner: Trullo
NEW: Diarmuid Goodwin – Head Chef: Sager + Wilde
Kenneth Culhane - Head Chef: The Dysart
Nick Fitzgerald - Chef/Patron: Tacos Padre
Fiona Hannon - Head Chef: Bentley's
Anna Haugh - Chef Patron: Myrtle
Colin Kelly - Head Chef: 22 Grosvenor Square
Marguerite Keogh - Head Chef: The Five Fields
Niamh Larkin – Pastry Chef; 45 Park Lane
Dave McCarthy - Head Chef: Scott's
Patrick Powell - Head chef: Allegra
Max Rocha – Chef/Owner: Café Cecilia
Clare Smyth MBE - Chef Patron: Core by Clare Smyth
Restaurateurs:
Richard Corrigan - Chef Patron of Corrigan Collection
Mark and Alan Wogan - Directors: Homeslice
Robin and Sarah Gill - Restaurateurs and chef: Bermondsey Larder, Darby's & more
John Devitt - Owner: Koya Soho, Koya City
Sinead Campbell - Restaurateur: Bong Bong's Manila Kanteen
Garrett Fitzgerald - Restaurateur: Butchies
Brian Hannon - Restaurateur: Super 8 Restaurants - Smoking Goat, Kiln, Brat
David Moore - Founding Director: Pied à Terre
John Nugent - CEO: Green & Fortune
Ciara O'Shea and Ken Nally - Owners: F. Mondays
Pubs, bars, cafes and bakeries
NEW: Colin Maher – Group Bars Manager: JKS Pubs
Oisin Rogers: Publican and Restaurateur
Gearoid Devane - Founder: The Black Book
Cormac Gibney - Bar Manager: Gibney's London
Aaron Wall and Ciarán Smith - Owners: Homeboy, The Bottle Cocktail Shop
James Hennebry – Co-Founder: Rosslyn Coffee
Dee Rettali – Owner: Fortitude Bakehouse
Front of House
NEW: Michael Lynch – Head Butler: Claridge’s
NEW: Olivia MacGowan – Assistant General Manager: Humo
Richie Corrigan - Operations Director: The Corrigan Collection
Conor Daly - General Manager: The George
Fergal Lee - GM: The Wolseley
Shane McHugh - Wine Buyer/Group Head Sommelier: Goodman Group
Joe Warwick - "Vieille Prune Dispenser": Bouchon Racine
Behind the scenes
NEW: Shayne Brady – Co-founder and Director of Hospitality: BradyWilliams
NEW: Andrew Fowler - TBC
Darren McHugh - Operations Manager - MJMK
Molly Hutchinson - Founder - MIAM Management, Event Director of Meatopia
Fiona Leahy - Founder: Fiona Leahy Design
Sinead Mallozzi - CEO: sketch
Producers & Retailers
James Goggin - Head of Sales: Empirical
Simon Lamont: Founder: Rocks Oysters
Evin O’Riordain - Founder: The Kernel Brewery
Darragh O'Shea - Owner: O’Shea’s Butchers
Steve Ryan -Food Photographer - Co-Founder: Root + Bone and 40FT Brewery, Director: Acme Fire Cult
Media
Jessica Corrigan - Co-Founder: Crab Communications
Diana Henry - Food Writer and broadcaster
Niamh Shields - Writer and cookbook author