Taking a Japanese classic like ramen and adding Irish flavours may sound like a food revolution too far. But not for this Belfast crew
‘Bia’ means food in Irish, but there’s more than a glib pun behind Brian Donnelly and Jenny Holland’s gutsy ramen joint, Bia Rebel. Their brand of rebellion aims to break down Belfast’s rather binary restaurant codes – there seems to be two choices, formal or junk – treat producers fairly and deliver optimal flavour at a price accessible to all.
Chef Donnelly was born in Dungannon in 1974, growing up in Tyrone’s “murder triangle” during the “hairy times” of the Troubles and started cooking in Ballymaloe House in Co Cork. After a stint in England in various big-name kitchens, including Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine and Michel Roux Jr’s Le Gavroche, he returned to Ireland as head chef at Thornton’s in Dublin when the restaurant held two Michelin stars.
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