Downpatrick man is first NI chef to be induced into Royal Academy of Culinary Arts

Downpatrick man is first NI chef to be induced into Royal Academy of Culinary Arts

28 August 2024

A DOWNPATRICK-BORN chef has been honoured with a major accolade.

Michael Gillies has become the first professional chef in Northern Ireland to be inducted into the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.

Michael Gillies, who lectures in Culinary Arts Management at Ulster University, was nominated by former MasterChef champion Gary Maclean and top Michelin Star chef Chris McClurg.  

He joins the UK’s finest head chefs, pastry chefs, and restaurant managers as an academician at the Royal Academy, which exists to support the future of the hospitality industry through education and training.

During his time in the industry, Michael held several senior chef roles in five-star hotels and Michelin-listed restaurants and has also cooked at Buckingham Palace.

Now, his research focuses on consumer perceptions of food, outreach programmes, food safety, and the use of digital technology in teaching.  

Nominated by peers across the industry, Michael hopes his position within the Royal Academy will support the enhancement of the Culinary Arts Management course at Ulster University.

He intends to visit schools and colleges across Northern Ireland, promoting the hospitality industry as a fulfilling and rewarding career option.  

Michael said: “It is a privilege to be inducted into the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and an honour to be the first person in Northern Ireland to have this recognition.

“The Royal Academy is about collaboration and networking with the best in the industry, and I have no doubt it will be beneficial for myself and my students as we seek to move hospitality education forward in Northern Ireland, open up new opportunities and show young people that a career in hospitality can offer an exciting, rewarding and balanced lifestyle.  

He added: “A huge thank you to Gary Maclean and Chris McClurg, two renowned chefs I have worked with throughout the years from cooking together in Buckingham Palace to competing against each other, for the nomination.”

Professor Ioannis S Pantelidis, Head of The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ulster University, said: “We are so proud of our colleague Michael Gillies, he is the first academic in Northern Ireland to be inducted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.

“We greatly value Michael’s contribution at Ulster University and our Academy restaurant.  We use labs such as the Academy to nurture the talents of hospitality and culinary arts management students to provide a first-class culinary and cultural experience for guests and private events.

“Michael’s expertise as a chef and connections across the industry, particularly now with his position as an Academician in the Royal Academy, will allow us to elevate the student experience and continue preparing students for Northern Ireland’s thriving food, drink and hospitality scene.”