Killian O'Connell, McCrady's Restaurant

The Staff Canteen
McCrady's restaurant

Killian O'Connell discusses his role as Sous Chef at McCrady's Restaurant and his own inspirations with regards to pursuing a career as a Chef.

Name: Killian O'Connell

Role: McCrady's Restaurant, Charleston, SC, previous Chef de Partie at The GreenHouse, Dublin

Bio: Killian O'Connell is the ex-Chef de Partie at The GreenHouse, Dublin but has now returned home to the USA for a role at McCrady's Restaurant, a restaurant offering inventive Southern cuisine fresh from the farm under the helm of Chef Sean Brock. The menu, which changes daily, is a celebration of peak-season and sustainable ingredients, sourcing from the restaurant’s rooftop garden, combined with an illustration of southern flavors.

Follow on Killian on Twitter: @thekidscantlose

Chef Skills

Killian O'Connell takes us through his personal experiences whilst being in the Culinary Industry. These key skills that young Chefs and industry professionals learn as part of their basic training.

What advice have you been given in your career as a Chef?

James Knappett once told me: "We're Chefs, we don't panic, we think sharp and act efficiently, but most of all we love what we do.

McCrady's menu

If you don't feel a huge amount of pride every day, in the way you look or the jobs you're doing,  you're at the wrong restaurant.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

 The advice I would give is just to go to as many restaurants as you can until you find a Head Chef that you feel is more of a mentor. Rather than a Head Chef who's just a boss, find a place that makes you feel like you're really being pushed to your limit every day. Where you feel like you're  working as a part of the team instead of just for yourself.

No matter what kitchen you walk into focus on learning the systems they use first, once you've  learned all of their systems then all you have to focus on is the cooking.

Find a Chef Job

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The Staff Canteen

The Staff Canteen

Editor 17th November 2016

Killian O'Connell, McCrady's Restaurant