What's it like to win a Michelin star? Three Munster chefs on joining the exclusive club

Ireland was awarded four new Michelin stars this year, and three of them happen to be in Munster. Joe McNamee meets the newest chefs who make the magic happen

Stefan McEnteer from Cashel Palace, Robbie McCauley from Homestead Cottage and Stephen Hayes from Cashel Palace. Picture: Miki Barlok

For as long as the old gogglebox has glowed in the corner, myriad children have curled up in front of it conjuring up dreams of emulating their heroes. But, over the last two decades, all those aspiring sporting superstars, budding actors and wannabe popstars have been joined by a whole new coterie of TV dreamers, and they’re not watching soccer tournaments and Wimbledon; they’re watching Masterchef and The Great British Bake Off. They don’t want new boots or a guitar for Christmas; they’re tapping up Santa for kitchen gadgets and cookbooks. It’s certainly where it all began for Stefan McEnteer, head chef of The Bishop’s Buttery, in Cashel Palace Hotel, one of Ireland’s new Michelin-starred chefs.

Earlier this year, Ireland added to its burgeoning international reputation for fine dining with a further four new Michelin stars, three of them coming to Munster, including a second star for then one-starred Terre, in Castlemartyr, Co Cork.