Ahmet Dede: New chef in the network of culinary experts.

Chef Ahmet Dede was born and raised in Ankara, the capital of Turkey. He was always inspired by his mother's cooking, which was the real catalyst for his love of cooking and Turkish cuisine. At the age of 25 he moved to Ireland to study Culinary Arts and went on to train and work in some of Ireland's finest restaurants. He has worked in some of Ireland's finest kitchens including Chapter One, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud and The Greenhouse. He also spent time on the continent working at the now closed Moshik's Place** in Amsterdam and the world famous Maemo** in Oslo.

Returning to Ireland in 2017, Ahmet accepted the position of Head Chef at The Mew's Restaurant in Baltimore, West Cork. Here he was crowned 'The Wild Chef', using only hyper-seasonal local produce was the restaurant's mantra, so products such as olive oil and black pepper were off the menu. Despite this added challenge, Ahmet earned his first Michelin star at The Mew's in 2018 and kept it in 2019 when the restaurant closed at the owners' decision.

In 2020, Ahmet opened his restaurant Dede in Baltimore, which was awarded a Michelin star in its opening year. This move was a real opportunity for Ahmet to explore his heritage through Turkish cuisine. Using the best of the local Irish market and a pantry full of spices from his homeland. A new wave of modern Turkish cuisine has emerged in Baltimore. In 2023, March dede was awarded its second Michelin star.

Awards:

Michelin Two Star - 2023 - 2024

Best Chef in Ireland 2022- Restaurant Association of Ireland

Best Chef In Ireland 2022- Food & Wine Magazine Ireland

Best Chef In Ireland 2023- Food & Wine Magazine Ireland