Previously executive chef at the ELY group of wine bars and restaurants in Dublin, the Dungannon-born chef is returning to Northern Ireland for the first time in over a decade to join the restaurant. He joined the Belfast restaurant late last year.
“Personally admired by me for nearly two decades, James St. has an outstanding reputation for incredible food and ambience and is credited with a strong and loyal customer base,” he says. “I’m keen to keep doing what James St. does well while introducing some of my own style and experience.”
“Our customers love the steaks and a range of delicious dishes including its famous crab and chili linguini – they won’t be going anywhere. However, I’m excited to show my passions and style as well as continuing with the classics that have put this restaurant on the map.”
The McKennas opened James St. in 2003 and have since followed this up with new venues including James St. Bar and Grill in 2011, and Hadskis in 2014. Earlier this year they opened a cookery school in the surrounds of Waterman House inside Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.
Commenting on the appointment, Niall McKenna says: “We are delighted to have Ryan on board as our new executive chef. He is the perfect fit for us, and we are excited by what lies ahead on the menus under his tutelage.
“He has experienced some of the world’s greatest kitchens and we can’t wait to see how he brings those influences to our menu. He is hugely passionate about sustainability and having a “no waste” kitchen and he thinks extremely carefully, and creatively, about making the most of every part of each ingredient he uses.”