Musgrave Marketplace - Master Chefs Ellan Farm
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Article Text:
It is Farm to Table to Farm for Master Chefs, one of Ireland’s only privately owned large nationwide catering companies. The multi award winning company began its first vegetable and crop planting at Ellan Farm, ultimately planting the next chapter of the Master Chefs sustainability strategy, Pat O Sullivan and his culinary team step closer to realising their ambition of a carbon neutral and zero waste business.
Master Chefs initially purchased the 20 acre farm land in 2021 with the vision of growing, harvesting and supplying all of the Master Chefs businesses nationwide with their own organically grown vegetable crops and salads. In addition, the Master Chefs farm includes a composting facility for food waste ensuring those valuable nutrients are harvested & reused to support plant growth. Thus delivering on their ethos of farm to table to farm.
In 2023 Master Chefs grew a range vegetables including carrots, parsnips, turnips, brassicas, kale, leeks, cabbage, potatoes & sprouts along with a wide range of salads which supplied their restaurants & events nationwide. 2024 will see the addition of a variety of fruit trees to include apples, figs, plums & pears as well as nut trees & berries. To compliment these new arrivals they will be introducing the first bee hives to the farm, bees play an important part in maintaining the complex ecosystem that allows multiple species co-exist.
The growth of Ellan Farm will bring Master Chefs ever closer to its core ambition of becoming a carbon neutral, zero waste business, serving much of its home grown ingredients across all menus at all its sites.
“We have learned so much over the last year, we are on an irreversible journey of establishing something unique on the Irish culinary landscape. Our team are inspired, we love what we do & that passion has led us on this path,” says founder and CEO, Pat O Sullivan,“our vision has always been to serve the freshest food, free from pesticides, to our ever increasing network of customers on a daily basis. Ellan Farm underpins our commitment to being truly sustainable while nurturing the environment & educating ourselves along with our customers on what is achievable.”
Executive Chef Michelle O’Donnell, who has led the Master Chefs food team for over a decade, is thrilled to be part of this new chapter in the company’s growth. Michelle along with Head Gardener Shirley Morrow, collaborate on a daily basis as to what is available to harvest & what is coming down the track in the weeks & months ahead.
“I’m now in the unique position of creating seasonal food menus from our very own sustainable farm which I know will deliver mouthwatering flavours and optimum nourishment to our customers. This is an entirely new way of menu planning and preparation for us and I’m seriously excited to see where this journey brings us” says Michelle.
While Ellan Farm evolves one thing is clear, Master Chefs business model has changed forever, the new normal is conversations around planting, soil suitability, plant rotation, sustainability, the eco system & local environment.
Reimagining what a catering company should be…..
