Ireland's private chefs: 'It's not cheap, but if you compare it to booking a babysitter, getting a taxi and paying for a meal with wine, it's actually not bad value'

"We might think they're the preserve of the rich and famous, but many private chefs say plenty of regular Irish families avail of their services, whether to prepare weekly meals or throw dinner parties Paul McVeigh doesn't hesitate when asked about the highlight of his career as a private chef - the week he spent in the Galapagos Islands, the remote location famed for its wildlife and for inspiring Charles Darwin."

"Today McVeigh owns the popular Dublin restaurants Mister S and Featherblade, but in his 20s, he spent time as a private chef to movie stars and wealthy business people in the US and further afield. It was while crewing on a Russian billionaire's superyacht that he got to sail around South America. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news"

Private chefs in Ireland frequently work for regular families, providing weekly meals and catering dinner parties as well as serving wealthy clients. Paul McVeigh spent his twenties working as a private chef for movie stars and businesspeople in the US and abroad, and he later crewed on a Russian billionaire's superyacht, which allowed him to sail around South America. McVeigh now owns Dublin restaurants Mister S and Featherblade. A week spent cooking in the Galapagos Islands stands out as a notable career highlight that combined remote travel with culinary service.

Read at Independent