Welcome

With over 40 years’ experience working in the catering and hospitality industry chef Willie Rochford brings with him a reputation for managing kitchens and food outlets wherever he has worked. Hailing from New Ross Co. Wexford. He started work in the Five Counties Hotel New Ross in the 70’s and went on to be trained by CERT and served his time in some of Irelands top hotels at the time including The Mount Brandon Hotel in Tralee and the Ard Ri hotel in Waterford before moving to London in the early 80’s where he worked in the West End of London before moving to take up a position as Sous Chef at the Humana Wellington in St. Johns Wood which was one of the UK’s top private hospitals, after two years at the hospital Willie was promoted to Senior Sous Chef a position he held until he returned to Ireland in the 90’s to take a Sous Chefs position in Waterford’s award winning restaurant The Reginald. After six years at the Reginald Willie opened his own outside catering business in New Ross The Old Bridge Catering Company which he ran for twenty successful years.

Willie went back to college to study for a degree in culinary arts at the Institute of Technology Tallaght and a master’s degree in culinary innovation and food product development at Dublin Institute of Technology Cathal Brugha Street. For the last six years Willie has managed the catering operation at the world famous Hook Lighthouse in Co. Wexford. During this time he has also lectured in culinary arts at Failte Ireland, The Hospitality Education and Training Centre in Limerick, The Limerick College of Further Education, The Institute of Technology Tallaght and  at Bray Institute of Further Education.

Willie is now involved in Education and Training full time.

Credentials 

MSc. Culinary Innovation and Food Product Development

B.A. Culinary Arts

Professional Chef FETAC / QQI Certified

FETAC / QQI registered Trainer

FETAC / QQI registered Manual Handling Instructor

EHOI Licensed HACCP Trainer

Diploma in Business Development

Diploma in Wines, Spirits and Beers

Diploma in Online Marketing

Diploma in Effective Credit Management

World Association of Chefs Society Accredited Culinary Judge

Honours and Awards

Multi award winner at Chef Ireland CATEX EXPO

Manager of Irish National and International Junior Culinary Team 2008 - 2011

Became a member of the Panel of Chefs of Ireland 1981 

Treasurer South East Branch Panel of Chefs 2008

Member of Board of Directors Panel of Chefs of Ireland 2009

Chairman South East Panel of Chefs 2011

Guest Judge at Northern Ireland Hospitality Janus awards for Hospitality professionals 2015

Culinary Innovation and Food Product Development

2014 Awarded food product most likely to succeed in industry award by Dublin Institute of Technology