Richard Corrigan - Part 1 - From A Rural Irish Farm To Becoming One Of London's Most Celebrated Chefs & Restaurateurs

Richard Corrigan is a chef who has lived many lives, each one bound by resilience, tradition, and an uncompromising love of food. In this conversation, he shares the stories that have shaped him, offering a rare glimpse into the philosophy behind one of the most distinctive voices in British and Irish hospitality. From oysters and stout to the centuries-old legacy of Bentley’s, Corrigan speaks with passion and precision. He rails against culinary shortcuts, celebrating instead the perfection of a native oyster with lemon, pepper, and brown bread. As custodian of one of London’s great institutions, he reflects on Bentley’s survival through war and hardship, and his mission to keep its traditions alive. His plan to take the London oyster championships on the road captures both his entrepreneurial spirit and his conviction that food culture should be open, mobile, and inclusive. The conversation also explores Ireland in vivid detail: his childhood on a small farm, learning the hard realities of food through animal slaughter and the making of black pudding, and his candid reflections on Ireland’s politics, diaspora, and culinary renaissance. Corrigan recalls his formative years in kitchens—from peeling potatoes in a local hotel at 14, to stepping into the Hilton Amsterdam at 17, and later forging a reputation in London that drew the attention of Albert Roux. As the stories unfold—late nights at Lindsay House, his thoughts on the madness and magic of Irish hospitality, and the fine line between toughness and kindness in professional kitchens—what emerges is a portrait of a chef who has never lost sight of his roots. This is Richard Corrigan at his most unfiltered and insightful: a man who believes in the value of tradition, the dignity of work, and the enduring power of food to connect us to place, to people, and to life itself. -------- Please leave us a great rating and a comment and share it with your friends - it really helps us grow as a show.If you're in the industry and are looking for the greatest POS system in the world than look no further -as Blinq are tearing up the rulebook—no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no per-device charges. Just £69 a month for unlimited devices and 24/7 UK-based support that’s always there, in person when you need it.Built for hospitality, by hospitality, blinq is the fastest, easiest POS system on the market—so intuitive, anyone can use it. And while others take weeks to get you up and running, with blinq, you’re live in just 2 hours.Join the hospitality revolution today & use the code GOTOBLINQ to get your first month free - https://blinqme.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.