Jonny Taylor
Born in Antrim and now living in Belfast, Jonny has been cooking since the age of 15 is ready to showcase all his expertise in the Great British Menu kitchen!
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Jonny has worked for some of the best-known chefs in the UK culinary industry, starting as a kitchen porter at the Stables in Antrim before climbing the ranks and then working for Clifford Caskey at the Dunadry Hotel. He has also worked for Paul Rankin and Jamie Oliver.
Having worked in Glasgow, Manchester and Edinburgh, Jonny decided to move to Belfast in 2018, where he acquired the popular eatery Shed Bistro, and won the won prestigious awards including Bistro of the year for Northern Ireland in the NI Food Awards, and Casual dining of the year in County Antrim, in the NI Hospitality Awards.
Building on this success, he later opened Blank, a Michelin recommended fine dining restaurant, and in 2024 rebranded it to Saga, which also appears in the guide. It offers a menu inspired by global cuisine incorporating Asian spices, Italian rustic charm, and French elegance, while using the freshest local Northern Irish ingredients. Its motto is “Think Global, Eat Local,” and delivers a unique culinary experience.
Jonny’s culinary philosophy relies on food simplicity, allowing the ingredients to shine while offering surprising and impactful flavours. With a menu celebrating notable figures from Northern Ireland; from the inventor of the modern tractor, Harry Ferguson, to one of the most celebrated poets, Seamus Heaney, Jonny aims to showcase straightforward yet impactful dishes.
