His creative cooking, inspired use of seasonal ingredients and an innovative menu have made the hotel’s restaurants into some of the finest in Ireland. Stefan has received many accolades for his culinary expertise and has developed an impressive choice of four unique dining experiences, each with its inimitable style and ambience.

Ashford Castle was awarded Bord Bia’s Just Ask! Restaurant of the Month for May 2011. The award recognises Ashford Castle’s use of local produce and inclusion of this detail on the menus at the castles four restaurants – The Drawing Room, Cullen’s at the Dungeon, Cullen’s at the Cottage and the George V Dining Room.

The menus of executive Head Chef Stefan Matz are a tribute to the wonderful produce available in the West of Ireland, notably its wonderful fresh seafood and Connemara lamb.

The George V Dining Room dedicates a full page at the front of its menu to introducing all the food suppliers to Ashford Castle. The more contemporary informal Cullen’s menus provide diners with a more intimate descriptive style, inviting visitors to ask questions about the producers who are named on every dish.

Just Ask! is a Bord Bia campaign which aims to encourage consumers to look for information on where their food comes from when eating out and encourages chef’s to provide the information on their menus.

Commenting on his win Stefan Matz said, “I have a passion for the wild and artisan food of the West. My well trained staff like nothing better than to chat to guests about each and every ingredient named, which sets the food in context and makes a wonderfully evocative culinary introduction to the region for visitors.”

Stefan introduces himself:  

In 1998 my Brother and myself purchased in a joint venture a small Country House Hotel in Ballyconneely, Co. Galway, where we had spent our summer vacations in previous years.

We developed and extended this Hotel gradually during the nineties to a culinary destination and gained international recognition by travellers from Ireland, Europe & the U.S. for excellence in Food & Service, and which was awarded a Michelin Star by the Michelin Guide in 2000.

In 2001 we decided to sell the hotel and while my brother returned to Germany I stayed in Ireland and in particular Connemara as my chosen location to live and work.

After commuting between Connemara and Dublin for 18 month working in a 4 Star Deluxe Hotel, in 2003 I opened a small restaurant in Clifden to be closer to my wife and children. During that summer I was presented with the opportunity of becoming Executive Chef in Ashford Castle, which had always been my dream position as a Chef and I gladly accepted this challenging opportunity.

Here in the Castle I enjoy overseeing our restaurants which we have available to our guests from Ireland, Europe and around the World. All four outlets, while each is very distinctive in its own right, are all based on the Best of Irish Produce and Irish Hospitality. The style of Food & Service ranges from casual to fine dining, this variety of Food & Service choices I enjoy most offering the best of produce available locally as well as nationally.

It has been and continues to be a pleasure living and working in Ireland, where we are spoilt with the superb produces available from the sea and land. Ashford Castle is the perfect platform to share my passion for good Food and Irish Hospitality with travellers from Ireland and around the world.

Stefan was our guest chef at the press preview weekend for the launch of West Cork Food when he was assisted by local chef, Chris Hedges. John Field of Field’s SuperValu in Skibbereen and his wife, Catherine, kindly provided the venue for the Saturday night meal for guests and visitors at their home in Baltimore.





Stefan Matz (centre) with Chris Hedges and John Field

(Photo Carol Gilbert)








Career Achievements:

1995        Egon Ronay’s Guide to Ireland
Chef of the Year  
 
1995-1997    Egon Ronay’s Guide to Ireland
One Star Rating, Erriseask House Hotel

1996-1999    John & Sally Mc Kenna’s Bridgestone Guide
One Star Rating, Erriseask House Hotel

1997        Feilia Bia
Chef of the Year 1998

1998        Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
Feilia Bia Award Modern Irish Cooking
Erriseask House Hotel

1998-2001    Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
One Star Rating, Erriseask House Hotel   

1999-2001    Michelin Guide to Britain & Ireland
Bib Gourmand, Erriseask House Hotel

2000-2001    Michelin Guide to Britain & Ireland
One Star Rating, Erriseask House Hotel

2000-2001    John & Sally Mc Kenna’s Bridgestone Guide
Classic Rating, Erriseask House Hotel

2002-2003    AA Guide to Britain & Ireland
Three AA Rossette, Portmarnock Hotel

2002        Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
Demi Star Rating, Portmarnock Hotel

2003        Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
One Star Rating, Portmarnock Hotel

2003        Food Wine Magazine
Highly Commended, Signal Restaurant

2004-2005    Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
Demi Star Rating, Ashford Castle

Since 2006    Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
One Star Rating, Ashford Castle

2006        Food & Wine Magazine
Highly Commended Restaurant, Connaught Room, Ashford Castle

2007        Georgina Campbell’s Guide to Ireland
Chef of the Year

2007        Food & Wine Magazine
Best Restaurant Connaught, Connaught Room, Ashford Castle    
  
2009    Santa Rita Life Magazine
Best Chef in Connaught

2009    Food & Wine Magazine
Short Listed Best Chef in Connaught

2010    Good Eating Guide Ireland
Best Restaurant Awards, Best Chef in Ireland