Neven Maguire facts for kids

Neven Maguire is a famous Irish chef and TV star from Blacklion, County Cavan. He is the main chef and owner of the MacNean House and Restaurant.

Neven has written many cookbooks. He often appears on TV and radio in Ireland. He also writes a weekly cooking column for the Irish Farmers Journal.

About Neven Maguire

Neven Maguire was born to Joe and Vera Maguire. He started cooking at age twelve in his family's restaurant, MacNean's. This restaurant is in Blacklion, County Cavan.

His father, Joe, bought the restaurant in 1969. The restaurant faced many challenges and was closed for over ten years, from 1976 to 1989. Neven took over the business as the head chef and owner in 2003.

After finishing his Junior Certificate, Neven left school. He went to the Enniskillen College of Food to study cooking. After graduating, Neven worked in several top restaurants in Europe. These restaurants had special awards called Michelin stars.

He started his career abroad in Berlin. He also worked at Roscoff Restaurant in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Other places included The Grand Hotel Restaurant in Berlin, Lea Linster Restaurant in Luxembourg, and Arzak Restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain.

Neven and his wife, Amelda, have twins. Amelda had a very difficult time when the twins were born.

He is a Roman Catholic.

Neven on TV and Radio

Neven Maguire often shares his cooking tips on The Marian Finucane Show on RTÉ Radio 1. He also writes a weekly column and recipe in the Irish Farmers Journal. He has shared recipes with the Mayo Advertiser.

In 2009, he cooked at the National Ploughing Championships in County Kildare. He has also appeared on many TV shows. These include Tubridy Tonight, The Late Late Show, Nationwide, Podge and Rodge, and The Restaurant.

Neven was the main chef on the Open House TV series from 1998 to 2004. He has also been in other cooking shows. These include 10 of the Best and Neven Cooks. Neven Cooks is shown in South Africa, Australia, and on Food Network. He also featured in Cook with Love, a show about his time in a cooking competition in Lyon in 2002. Another show was Neven's Food from the Sun.

Currently, Neven hosts a cooking show called Neven Maguire: Home Chef. This show is on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) network, Create TV.

Neven's Cookbooks

Neven has written several popular cookbooks:

• Food from the Sun (ISBN: 9780007285136) HarperCollins
• Neven's Real Food for Families (ISBN: 9780717142613)
• Home Chef (ISBN: 9780007300839)
• Neven Maguire's Cookery Collection (ISBN: 9781842232569)
• Cooking for Family and Friends (ISBN: 9781842232156)
• Neven Cooks (ISBN: 9781842231296)

He also helped create a cookbook for people with Parkinson's disease. This was for the Parkinson's Association of Ireland.

Awards and Achievements

Neven Maguire has won many awards for his cooking and restaurant:

• Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Fine Dining (2008)
• Food & Wine's 'Ulster Best Restaurant' Award in 2009, 2008, 2004, 2003, 2002
• Food & Wine's 'Restaurant of the Year' Award 2008
• Food & Wine's 'Ulster Best Chef' Award in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004
• Georgina Campbell's Restaurant of the Year Award 2007
• Special Award for Culinary Achievements and Tourism Promotion from Cavan County Council 2007
• Georgina Campbell's Natural Food Award 2006
• Jameson Chef of the Year 2004
• Represented Ireland in the Bocuse d'Or World Cuisine Competition in Lyon, France 2001
• Gold Medal Award Winner 2001
• Bushmills Chef of the Year 1999 and 2000
• Eurotoque Young Chef of the Year 199
• Best Student in the UK and Ireland 1997

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