Conrad Gallagher is one of the stars who brought fine cuisine to a once isolated backwater that had fully mastered the art of boiling everything to mush. As a chef, he can cook like no other. As a businessman, it's a pity he can't cook his books as well.
Two of Mr. Gallagher's restaurants have gone under, buried under a mountain of unpaid taxes. Ms. Justice Mary Laffoy has declared them insolvent, unable to pay what they owe and not in any position to pay in the future.
Salon Des Saveurs is but a memory of what sudden prosperity brought to Dubliners. Residents of Sligo won't have Conrad's Kitchen to delight their palates any more.
Perhaps Mr. Gallagher spread himself too thin, building an empire while demand was white hot but not able to see the end coming at him. Then again, there's a certain mindset needed to create imaginative dishes, and quite another to manage a thriving business.
He may be down, but he's not out. If you still have a few euros left in your wallet and a hankering for some delicious food, you might try The Dining Room or The Tasting Room at La Stampa Hotel.
Of course the restaurants are located in a posh hotel. The locals may not be able to afford it, but there's always the tourist trade that supports the Irish economy.
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