Danny Millar is Head Chef at Balloo House in Killinchy, County Down and a Director in Balloo Inns Ltd.

 

He trained in Germany for four years, coming home to N. Ireland in the mid-90’s to cook with the late Robbie Millar in the Michelin starred Shanks restaurant. He then moved to The Narrows in Portaferry followed by four years at Cayenne in Belfast where he was Head Chef. In September 2006 he met up with Ronan Sweeney, Managing Director of Balloo Inns and joined the company as a Director and Head Chef.

 

In 2008 and 2009 Danny won the NI Regional finals of BBC2 programme The Great British Menu going on to represent N. Ireland alongside 6 other top chef’s from around the UK. He has also appeared on Saturday Kitchen on BBC1 with another appearance scheduled for August this year.

 

Danny’s cooking at Balloo House has received attention from many respected food writers with inclusion in the Michelin Guide, the Bridgestone Top 100 Restaurants in Ireland and Georgina Campbell’s ‘Best of the Best’ in Ireland Guide. On the back of this success, Balloo Inns has recently opened a new dining pub, The Parson’s Nose in Hillsborough which has already been included in The Bridgestone Top 100 Restaurants and last month was named the ‘Best Casual Dining’ venue in County Down by the Restaurant Association of Ireland.

 

Danny would describe his cooking style as a modern take on European classics with a firm emphasis on sourcing locally.

 

Awards and accolades

Best Chef (Danny Millar) – Fate Magazine Awards 2010

Best Chef (Danny Millar) – Restaurant Association of Ireland (Co Down finals)

Best Restaurant 2010 (Balloo House) – Rest Association of Ireland (Co Down finals)

Best Customer Service 2010 (Balloo House) – Rest Association of Ireland (Co Down finals)

Best Casual Dining 2010 (The Parson’s Nose) – Rest Association of Ireland (Co Down final)

Pub of the Year Ireland 2009 (Balloo House) – Georgina Campbell’s Ireland Awards

Hospitality Award 2007 – (Balloo House) NI Tourist Board Awards

 

Food writer’s guides

Michelin Guide 2010 (Balloo House restaurant)

Bridgestone Top 100 Restaurants in Ireland 2010 (Balloo House & The Parson’s Nose)

Georgina Campbell’s Ireland 2010 (Balloo House & The Parson’s Nose)