JP McMahon is a chef, restaurateur and author. He is owner and culinary director of Michelin-starred Aniar Restaurant, award-winning Spanish restaurant Cava Bodega and he also runs the Aniar Boutique Cookery School. In 2022 JP launched JP McMahon Culinary Consultancy and works nationally and internationally. 

JP is committed to the educational and ethical aspects of food, to buying and supporting the best of local and free-range produce, and engaging directly with farmers and producers. JP is the founder and plays host to one of the biggest and most talked about international food events in Europe, Food on the Edge. The highly successful inaugural event took place in Galway in October 2015 followed by equally acclaimed annual events to 2019.

The 2020 event fell victim to Covid, however the team published an e-book ‘Lessons from Lockdown: Cooking after Covid’ featuring many former speakers and voices from the industry and 2021 saw the return of Food on the Edge in a blended format with both in person and virtual speakers and delegates joining from across the world; plans are afoot for FOTE2024. The event features the best international chefs from across the globe. Director, founding and current chair of the Galway Food Festival, JP is an ambassador for Irish food travelling widely to promote Ireland, its produce and food culture. 

He is also an ambassador for Spanish food in Ireland in particular promoting the wines of Rías Baixas (Galicia) and Jerez. JP is a member of Euro-Toques Ireland. 

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